IN-FORM York City Knights full-back Chris Smith is set to sit out Sunday's National League Two match at promotion rivals Chorley Lynx.

As reported by the Evening Press, Smith suffered a knee injury late on in the win at Workington at the weekend and it now looks unlikely that he will be fit for Sunday.

Player-coach Paul Broadbent has admitted it will be a blow to the Knights as they look to make it five wins from five games and at the same time hamper the promotion aspirations of the side one place below them in the play-off places.

"He has had physiotherapy treatment but he's looking unlikely for the weekend unless there is a major turnaround," Broadbent told the Evening Press.

"It will affect us without a doubt because he has been a real force for us, carrying the ball strongly and working hard off the ball. He's an experienced player we would rather not be without."

The good news for the Knights is that they then have a blank weekend - there are no National League fixtures on July 6 as that day sees the final of the Arriva Trains Cup - which gives Smith more time to recover for the crucial visit to Huntington Stadium of leaders Keighley.

"The fact we have a week's break after the Chorley match is a bonus for him," added Broadbent.

Meanwhile, Broadbent has been quick to praise Danny Brough after the Knights scrum-half was selected for the National League Under-21s squad who will take on their Super League counterparts in a curtain-raiser to the Origin match at Bradford's Odsal Stadium on Wednesday.

"He's played some really good stuff," he said. "Both our half-backs have been very prominent in our recent form, with Scott Rhodes also playing some excellent stuff.

"Any sort of representative honour has to be held in high regard for the player and the Knights. When players get these honours it is a credit to the club as well as themselves as individuals."

Brough himself said his partnership with stand-off Rhodes was blossoming, and also praised the work of the Knights forwards, which he said made their job easier.

"We're learning each other's game and doing a lot for each other," said the Dewsbury-based youngster of his half-back alliance. "As long as we keep working together we should be going well.

"We had a great pack against Workington (in the win on Sunday)," he said. "There was some good go-forward, which is where most of our tries came from."

He added: "We had another good following from the fans. It was great to see them going up to Workington and they've given us great backing."

Updated: 11:12 Thursday, June 26, 2003