ASSISTANT boss Mick Ramsden has urged York City Knights’ first-team wannabes to press their claims for a shirt when they take to the field tonight.

The Knights tackle a Leeds Rhinos team at Huntington Stadium (kick off 8pm) in a friendly encounter four days ahead of Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup trip to Sheffield Eagles.

The hosts will feature only two players – Dan Wilson and Carl Barrow – from the side that shocked Leigh in Sunday’s Northern Rail opener.

However, there are several among the 18 others on show who will think themselves first-choices – not least Player of the Year Mark Applegarth, fellow prop John Fallon, threequarter Steve Lewis, half-back Jonathan Schofield and back-rower Kris Peacock.

And Ramsden, who is also the Knights’ reserve-grade academy coach, wants them to prove they are worthy of a call-up.

He said: “They will need to fight to get to the standards the first team set on Sunday. We want the reserve-grade to put a lot of pressure on that starting team.

“It’s healthy for the squad to be like that. They’ve got to show good attitude and application. It will put them in the reckoning and it will put pressure on the lads to play well on Sunday.”

Applegarth was left out of the Leigh game as he has missed training sessions due to university studies and transport issues, while former Featherstone star Fallon is coming back from a knee injury over the off-season. They both, however, face a fight to get in the first team given the pack’s performance against Leigh. Barrow was a substitute prop that day and will skipper tonight’s team.

Ramsden said: “We’ve got a great battle up front with several players fighting for places.

“There will be a couple of places up for grabs for this weekend. John Fallon is coming into the mix and Mash (Applegarth) is having a run.

“Jonathan Schofield is also pushing hard for a shirt at half-back. He’s a quality player and is developing well, and it’s good competition for Casey Bromilow (the scrum-half versus Leigh). We’re looking for him to carry on improving.”

Scholarship graduates Ed Smith and Joe Dey will also continue their schooling, with Smith getting his first start, on the wing.

Meanwhile, Wilson, a winger against Leigh, will be given a run at full-back to get game-time in that position, as will Tom Stancliffe, although the youngster starts on the wing.

Super League champions Leeds are bringing a reserve-grade academy line-up similar to the one that beat Hunslet 56-14 in the annual Lazenby Cup last week. The Hawks – one of the Knights’ big rivals in Championship One – featured a team predominantly of fringe players that night.

The Rhinos will field prop Luke Ambler, who impressed in a loan spell at Huntington Stadium last season. However, former York favourite Ian Kirke is not involved.

There had been hopes the 29-year-old, who helped the Knights win the 2005 National League Two title before going on to enjoy Super League success at Headingley, would feature after missing the Rhinos’ first-team defeat to Castleford at the weekend.

Knights (possible): D Wilson, Stancliffe, Clarke, Lewis, Smith, Coleman, Schofield, Barrow, Helliwell, Hardbottle, Peacock, Duckworth, Hampshire. Subs: Applegarth, Fallon, Bell, Dey, Falkingham, Reid, Williams.

Rhinos: Bush, Cruickshank, Normington, A Wilson, Chisholm, Casey, Carroll, Ambler, McShane, Sampson, Pitts, Carvill, Clarkson. Subs: Hood, McDermott, Syron, Parkinson, Wool, Vincentio, Roche.