HEAD coach Mick Cook has responded to fan power by giving Jamaine Wray his first start in a York City Knights shirt.

The recent recruit from Hunslet Hawks has so far been used as a substitute hooker but supporters have been calling for him to start games and stay on the pitch longer.

They will get their wish tomorrow when the Knights face the mighty Leigh Centurions at Huntington Stadium.

They will also see exciting flier Austin Buchanan back in action for the first time since he rejoined the club, while upcoming teenager Nathan Priestley has been added to the squad.

Cook has been impressed by Wray, who was the Press man of the match in last week's cup defeat at Workington, but explained he had so far used him sparingly as the player gets used to life in National League One.

He said: "I will give him more game-time but he's been struggling with full match fitness at this level, especially for the way he plays - he uses up a lot of energy with his runs. But I'd like him to stay on longer.

"He's developing quite nicely. He's learning our game and the players and he's settled in really well.

"I've asked him to play his natural game, hit them where he can but, when he can't, concentrate on doing his job.

"I thought he was excellent last week. He went forward really well and, if anything, lacked a bit of support."

Buchanan has been pencilled in to play at centre but will revert to his normal wing role if Peter Fox fails to overcome a late test on his dead leg.

A back-row reshuffle has seen John Smith omitted to rest several niggling injuries, with Rob Spicer moving from centre to loose-forward, though he will move back if Fox is unfit. That could also see Priestley come into the 17 after impressive displays for the Academy.

Prop James Ward has also been recalled in place of Dean O'Loughlin, while Paul Thorman is left out.

The Knights are being given no chance to turn over the full-timers, who are aiming to bounce straight back into Super League, but Cook said: "I think there's a good performance waiting to come out and we need that sooner rather than later.

"This is a massive challenge. They were probably favourites to go back up at the start of the season and they're a big, physical side. We can either sit back and watch them play or roll our sleeves up, get stuck in and see what they've got."

Tere Glassie, who signed for York in the winter but then changed his mind and joined Leigh, is suspended, but prop Dana Wilson, who did likewise, will play.

Leigh are also without Tommy Grundy (shoulder) and experienced playmaker Julian O'Neill (ankle) but have a wealth of talent to call on.

Tomorrow's squads

LHF Healthplan

National League One

York City Knights v Leigh Centurions

(at Huntington Stadium)

Knights (possible): Blaymire, Fox, Buchanan, Law, Lingard, Rhodes, Hasty, Sullivan, Wray, Bates, Buckley, Golden, Spicer. Subs from Liddell, Paterson, Blanchard, Ward, Priestley.

Leigh: Grix, Gaskell, Halliwell, Hughes, Greenwood, Forber, Heremaia, Bibey, Rowley, Wilson, Taylor, Hill, Sykes. Subs: Speakman, Coleman, Cookson, Stevens.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield)

Kick off: 3pm

Updated: 10:12 Saturday, May 13, 2006