PLAYER-boss Paul March will be keeping a close eye on rookie stand-off Danny Grice tonight when York City Knights' reserve grade academy side take on Featherstone at Huntington Stadium.

Grice made his debut for the under-21s in Saturday's 32-32 draw with Batley and is set for a second run-out as he bids to earn a contract with the National League club.

The 23-year-old played alongside current Knights stars Rob Spicer and Paul Hughes in a Wakefield Wildcats academy team then coached by March, and he has also previously turned out for Castleford's U21s.

He has recently been starring for amateurs Stanley Rangers and has come to York on trialist forms.

March said: "Paul Hughes gave me a ring as he knew we were struggling with strength in depth in the half-backs and he said Danny was available and would like to come down and have a run with the academy.

"He's a confident lad. He believes that once he gets some games under his belt he could be pushing for the first team.

"I watched him against Batley and he fitted in quite well. It will take him time to get used to the lads but he impressed me. He stood out with a couple of nice touches and I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes again."

Academy chief Paul Higgins is likely to go with a similar line-up tonight - barring first-teamer Lee Mapals - after the encouraging display in adversity at Batley.

Injuries and work commitments meant Higgins only had 16 players at his disposal that day, and they were even down to 11 men at one point due to yellow cards, yet the young Knights fought back from 26-12 down to take a 32-26 lead, only to be pegged back late on.

Higgins said: "It wasn't our strongest team but the lads performed really well and dug in against a big Batley side. We could really have won it, and we're now looking to turn Featherstone over."

Knights reserves: from Wilson, Waldron, Blaney, Ferris, Joe Stearman, Grice, Speck, Varley, Hunter, Hodgson, Jack Stearman, O Wilcox-Harrison, T Wilcox-Harrison, Grundy, Endersby, Maud, Walton, Fraser.