YORK City Knights boss Mick Cook will give many of his National League Two champions first digs at claiming a first-team shirt for 2006 when his side kick off their pre-season campaign.

Of the starting 13 to face Leeds Rhinos at Huntington Stadium tomorrow, ten played key roles in the club's charge to promotion, while an 11th - winger Craig Farrell - is also known to Knights fans, having been in the 2004 team.

Therefore, only two new faces - winger Paul Clarke and prop Dean O'Loughlin - will start tomorrow's game, although five more are likely to play a full part off the bench.

One of those is former Hull KR favourite Phil Hasty, who is up against Paul Thorman and Scott Rhodes for a half-back slot. Tynesider Thorman and local favourite Rhodes, who started his career with tomorrow's opponents Leeds, are in from the start.

The two clubs have agreed to using unlimited substitutions, with Cook saying each of the 20 in his squad for tomorrow will get a good run.

Those not in tomorrow's squad will get their shot against Wakefield in the friendly next Friday against what is likely to be a strong Wildcats line-up.

However, as expected, any players with niggling injuries will not be risked.

Said Cook: "I want to let everybody have a good opportunity tomorrow but without running anybody into the ground.

"Those on the bench or not playing this week may start against Wakefield so everybody will get their chance to stake a claim.

"We're a team but we can only play 17 and at the moment people are playing to get their place in the 17.

"But we're a squad and the whole squad will be tested throughout the year."

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, January 14, 2006