FORMER York Acorn amateur Kyle Palmer has forced his way into York City Knights' first-choice line-up.

Palmer, along with fellow youngsters David Leeke and Steve Grundy, has been called into the squad to take on Wakefield in Sunday's friendly, with player-coach Paul March saying the 19 on view make up what he regards to be his strongest posse.

The big-guns who sat out last week's friendly draw with the York Select XIII will all come into the team, including March himself, who says Palmer, Leeke and Grundy all did enough last week to get in on the act, with Palmer named in the initial 17.

"They have played themselves in," he said. "It's up to them now to put another marker down for a starting shirt."

Palmer, a towering 23-year-old, came to the Knights last season as a centre but former coach Mick Cook transformed him into a prop, calling him up from the academy late in the season after injuries to his front-rowers. He impressed enough then to stay in the picture, and he has now impressed March too.

Back-rower Grundy, 22, made 12 first-team appearances last season and is looking to build on that this term, while Leeke, still only 17, has joined from Leeds academy and is already pushing for a first-team berth on the wing, although former BARLA Great Britain centre Matt Danville has been chosen ahead of him for this game.

March said: "Matt is a centre or winger and has no problems switching from one to the other. I've seen him play at centre (v York Select) and now we'll see how he goes on the wing.

"David Leeke, though, is chomping at the bit to get in there."

The four new signings from Wakefield - March, his brother David, Mark Applegarth and Steve Lewis - will all start against their former club, who, as reported, will field a side littered with first-teamers.

Applegarth will start up front alongside another new boy, former Hunslet prop Danny Ekis, with David March at hooker. Lewis is at centre, partnering Lee Mapals, who is back on the wing after his run-out at full-back last week, with Danny Ratcliffe taking the number one shirt. Danville and John Oakes will be on the other flank.

New captain Scott Rhodes will partner Paul March at half-back, with big-hitters Dave Buckley and Ryan Esders back in the back row alongside ex-Dewsbury youngster Rob Kelly.

Palmer is among the four initial substitutes, alongside fellow forwards Andy Bailey and Ross Divorty and hooker Paul Hughes. Grundy and Leeke will also be on the bench, while half-back Danny Grimshaw (groin) could get a run-out as 20th man if he passes fit.

March added: "We're going with what we see as our strongest 19. The eight fit players who didn't play on Sunday will play, and there are players from Sunday who have played themselves into the strongest 19, so credit to them."

Rob Spicer (knee op), Johnny Waldron (knee), Scott Wood-cock (virus) and Tom Wilcox-Harrison (knee op) will miss the pre-season games with injury.

Knights (v Wakefield): Ratcliffe, Mapals, Lewis, Oakes, Danville, Rhodes, P March, Ekis, D March, Applegarth, Buckley, Kelly, Esders. Subs: Hughes, Bailey, Palmer, Divorty, Leeke, Grundy, Grimshaw.