YORK City Knights’ line-up tomorrow is likely to provide a big indication of the squad that will kick off the 2009 season.

The Press understands that coaches Paul March and James Ratcliffe are set to go with virtually their strongest choice for the final friendly of pre-season, at home to Super League club Hull KR.

Three players – Danny Ratcliffe, Richard Knight and Danny Ekis – are on the verge of returning from operations and so might figure when the season starts with the Northern Rail Cup opener at home to Whitehaven a week tomorrow.

But, barring this trio, and the suspended March twins, the Knights are set to field the bulk of the team who will be given the task of getting the campaign off to a good start.

That means major changes from the predominantly youthful line-up that beat a young Castleford Tigers side 32-14 at Huntington Stadium last night.

However, player-boss Paul March stressed every player still had to prove himself on the pitch – especially after being given food for thought by some last night, not least second-row Oliver Wilcox-Harrison and Danny Grimshaw, the scrum-half who is almost certain to start the season in the suspended March’s stead.

“The team doesn’t pick itself,” he said. “The team have to play well week in, week out and be on form to have a shirt, and that includes tomorrow.

“I think there were 20 minutes in the second half last night when we fell asleep but the lads showed character to get back into the game, and in the end it was a fair result.

“The performance was an improvement on Hunslet last week and that’s what we wanted. A few lads put their hands up.”

The inclusion tomorrow of trialists Lee Waterman, who has been charged with not only winning a contract but also keeping number one full-back Ratcliffe out of the side, and New Earswick second-row Carl Barrow, who gets another chance to impress after debuting last night, shows the coaching staff are still, however, running the rule over certain players.

March was happy to throw down the gauntlet to 21-year-old Skirlaugh amateur Waterman, who debuted in the academy friendly at Hunslet last Friday.

He said: “Lee impressed against Hunslet. He carried the ball back well and if he keeps on impressing who knows what the future holds for him. He’s going to step up and play in a more experienced side against more experienced opposition tomorrow so it should be a good learning curve for him.

“It (a start versus Whitehaven) depends on his performance tomorrow. Danny Ratcliffe will be pushing for full-back for next Sunday and we’ve also got Dave Clayton who can go in there.

“We want to have another look at Carl as well, so he will get a run.”

Paul Hughes, Adam Sullivan and Mark Applegarth, who all made their 2009 bows last night, will play a bigger part tomorrow, though Tom Haberecht will probably not be thrown back in having just arrived back from his native Australia.

Half-back Grimshaw will also feature again, becoming the only player to have played in all four friendlies. March seemed delighted Grimshaw was showing enough form to threaten his own place. He added: “He impressed again and he’s pushing for my spot.”

Rovers are set to bring a side littered with first-teamers, augmented by some fringe players and Under-21s.

York-born England winger Peter Fox and centre Ryan Esders, who both made their names at York before moving to Super League, the latter having signed for Rovers at the end of last season, are likely to be back at Huntington Stadium.

March added: “It will be a massive test for us and a physical test. It’s up to us to compete for the full 80 minutes and then take that 80 minutes into the Whitehaven game.”

Knights (probable): Waterman, Lewis, Clayton, Oakes, Waldron, A Mitchell, Grimshaw, Sullivan, Hughes, Applegarth, Kelly, Ross, Grundy. Subs: Williams, Clough, Woodcock, Barrow.