ALEX BENSON will lead out York City Knights for the first time tomorrow as the new club captain, writes Peter Martini.

The 25-year-old prop has been given the armband by head coach Dave Woods, replacing the departed Jordan Ross as skipper.

The Knights take on a St Helens XIII at Huntington Stadium tomorrow (3pm), when Woods will also give a run-out to a promising trialist from New Earswick ARLC, Joe Hemmings.

The Press revealed last month that Benson was one of five players in the running for the captaincy, with Woods set to also name skippers for certain areas of the field.

The fact Benson has been given the nod was set to be confirmed on the Knights’ new website, which was being launched this weekend.

Woods said of his new sentinel, one of the rocks of the Championship One play-offs triumph: “At the back end of last season he stepped things up.

“He’s been outstanding in pre-season. He trains really well and he’s a good role model for the young blokes. He talks to them and helps them. You can’t fault what he does.

“He’s not a problem away from the game. He speaks well. He’s a good ambassador for the club.

“This will give him a bit of a boost to have the boys following his lead.”

Benson is one of eight players from the Grand Final who are to play tomorrow, although fellow front-rower Nathan Freer has dropped out due to a tight hamstring.

Freer, as well as Ryan Esders (toe) and Ben Jones (virus), will not be risked, while Matt Garside is set to be left out after missing training. The club were also contemplating disciplinary action against the North East student, who had impressed in the opening friendly at Castleford.

Reserves player of the year Jordan Rice is set to start, while young Ed Smith will also get another run-out having done well against Cas Under-20s last week.

There will also be a place on the bench for Hemmings, who has just turned 22. He has stood out for All Blacks in the Pennine League division one this season and has recently been training with the Knights.

Woods said: “He’s trained pretty well and we thought we’d throw him in and see how he goes against this sort of competition.

“He’s struggled a bit with some of the technical things in training because he hasn’t had those things before, but he’s looked all right. He’s picking things up – it will take time – and if he’s keen and wants to learn then he should go all right.

“Mick Ramsden (reserves and assistant-coach) watched him at New Earswick and said he’s gone pretty well. It’s a big jump from that level but we’ll have a look.”

St Helens’ first team play Widnes tomorrow so are to bring an under-20s side to York.

Woods nevertheless reckoned they would provide the right kind of task at this time in pre-season.

He said: “If you look at who St Helens have recently produced – the likes of Kyle Eastmond, Jonny Lomax, Gareth Frodsham – you know it’s a strong academy.”

Five of the current crop – Jordan Case, Daniel Jones, Josh Jones, Greg Wilde and Daniel Yates – were this week named in the England Academy squad for 2011.

Woods added: “They’re a good side and they’re used to the tough stuff – if you look at their body shapes, they’re not just kids, they’re big fellas. It should be a good game.”

Knights (probable): Haynes, Sutton, Straugheir, Bush, Wilson, Thorman, Presley, Benson, Lee, Stearman, Barron, Rice, Barlow. Subs: from Woods, Stamp, Smith, Tuffour, Mortimer, Hemmings, Waterman.