ACADEMY players Tom Dunmore and Nathan Priestley will be among the new York City Knights signings given debuts tonight.

Wakefield Trinity visit Huntington Stadium for a pre-season friendly (7.30pm) and Knights coach Mick Cook is set to throw full-back Dunmore, 19, and second-row Priestley, 18, in off the bench - though he is wary of pushing them too far too soon.

"Wakefield are bringing a strong side - I didn't think it would be as strong as that," said Cook. "I'm planning to give these blokes a run but I don't want to throw them out there just to get bashed up."

That fear will mean teenage prop Liam Watling will not be risked against Wakefield's Super League pack, especially as Cook has a number of front-rowers who need game-time, including former Doncaster prop Jamie Bovill, who will make his debut assuming there is no recurrence of a niggling hip injury.

Joe Helme, David Bates, Dean O'Loughlin and Craig Forsyth will also feature in a match-day squad of 21, which also includes centre Chris Spurr, who plays his first game since the horror leg injury 13 months ago, and Mark Cain, who returns after nine months out and shoulder surgery.

Phil Hasty will partner Scott Rhodes at half-back, with Paul Thorman a substitute, while Rob Spicer starts against his former club.

Cook said he was looking to "turn it up a bit" following the opening friendly against Leeds.

"We're looking for some improvement in things like our marker play and kicking game," he explained. "There are a few things we've spoken about. That's why we play these games, to have a look at a few things and give players game-time."

Rested are prop Adam Sullivan, who had a big stint against Leeds, centre Dan Potter, full-back Matt Blaymire, the man of the match on Sunday, loose-forward Lee Paterson, who captained the side that day, and second-rows James Ward and Jason Golden.

Updated: 09:56 Friday, January 20, 2006