LEEDS United boss Eddie Gray will take a gamble for tomorrow's Premiership game against Portsmouth at Elland Road (kick-off 11.30am).

Without the services of suspended Mark Viduka, Gray s to pair rookie striker Simon Johnson with Alan Smith up front.

The 21-year-old Johnson has scored 15 goals for Leeds reserves this season but has started just one first team game, the final one of last season at home to Aston Villa.

Gray said: "It is disappointing to be without Mark. We have not got a lot of people to replace him, especially when you consider we are talking about a top class player. But it happens to a lot of teams and they adjust.

"Stepping up into the Premiership is a big challenge for anyone but it is an opportunity for Simon to show people what he can do.

"James Milner has been playing in the side since he was 16 and Simon is now 21.

"There comes a time in football when you have to be ready to take an opportunity when it comes along.

"He is the top goalscorer in the reserves and that will give the boy a lot of confidence."

With both Seth Johnson and Eirik Bakke out for the season with injury central defenders Lucas Radebe and Dominic Matteo will continue in midfield,

Leeds were beaten 6-1 by Portsmouth earlier in the season in what turned out to be Peter Reid's last game in charge.

Gray said: "The players see tomorrow's game as a chance to put some pressure on the sides above us in the table.

"It is a huge game because we do not have a dozen games left to turn it round."

United have taken a healthy 11 points from their last five home matches, but defeat tomorrow in their penultimate home fixture would be a potentially fatal blow.

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, April 24, 2004