YOUNGSTER Ed Smith is in line for his York City Knights debut tomorrow – in one of the toughest baptisms he could face.

The troubled Knights, undergoing a player cull having fallen to seventh in Championship One, entertain a Blackpool team who are the only side in all three professional divisions to still have a 100 per cent winning record – and who scored a record 132 points against Gateshead last time out.

And 17-year-old Smith, a graduate of the Knights’ scholarship, is set to be thrown in at the deep end, albeit off the bench, having been named in a 17-man squad which shows several changes to that which lost at Rochdale last week.

Head coach James Ratcliffe reckons the youngster – who was a loose-forward as a junior but is more likely to be played at centre – deserves his opportunity having impressed in training and in the reserves.

Ratcliffe said: “Ed has been playing in the centres and he’s been consistent. His attitude in training is fantastic. We felt it right to give other people a chance so it’s right we give him a chance.”

Smith has previously played in first-team friendlies and was named in the provisional match-day squad for the Challenge Cup tie against Crusaders only to be left out of the 17.

Star man Chris Thorman is set to return after a month out with his quad injury – though he must first prove his fitness in today’s reserves match at Oldham.

He will replace the axed Joe McLocklan at half-back, though it remains to be seen who will be his partner in the halves as Paul Stamp, scrum-half in recent weeks, misses out due to injury, and neither Jonathan Schofield nor Casey Bromilow are in the 17. Schofield plays for the reserves again while Aussie Bromilow has an ankle injury.

Danny Ratcliffe could switch from full-back, with Dan Wilson possibly moving from centre to the number one role. This looks feasible as centre Mike Mitchell is back in the 17, although head coach Ratcliffe was keeping his cards close to his chest.

Stamp has a similar knee problem, albeit not as serious, to that which again keeps captain Richard Blakeway on the sidelines. It is hoped Stamp will be back next week.

Steve Lewis, loose-forward last week, is also ruled out due to his hamstring injury, while second-row Chris Clough starts his four-match ban.

Luke Hardbottle is a natural replacement in the back row while 18th man will be chosen from the reserves party.

Ratcliffe was optimistic Thorman was over his quad problems, having suffered a recurrence the last time he returned to duty.

“He trained really well this week and has gone flat out so he should be okay,” he said. “He’s probably stronger this time than the last time he came back. His return is a big positive among a few negatives recently. Hopefully it’ll have a positive effect on people.”

Ratcliffe was fully aware of the challenge Blackpool posed. They won the reverse fixture 27-14 in early April amid eight straight victories, the latest being their 132-0 humiliation of Gateshead.

He said: “They’re the form team. It’s a big ask for us. It doesn’t get any easier but we have to carry on doing it tough. There are quality people in our team and hopefully they will repay the confidence we have in them.”

For Blackpool, prop Dave Best and Lee Marsh remain up to three weeks away from a return.

Coach Martin Crompton gave his side a week off last week. He said: “We’ve got a serious month ahead, so I gave them the opportunity to recharge their batteries.

“We’ve got York, Oldham, Hunslet and Swinton all away – it doesn’t get any tougher. It could be a month that defines our season.

“York have been a bit hit and miss but they’re capable of producing the goods, so we’ve got to make sure we perform.”

Kick off is 3pm. Ticket holders can access Bar 13 from 12.30pm with happy hour until 1.30pm. Director of Dave Woods will again address supporters at about 2.35pm. The football international between England and Japan will be on the big screen from 1.15pm.

Knights: from D Ratcliffe, Wilson, Lineham, Waterman, Tuffour, Mitchell, Thorman, Lee, Williams, Freer, Fallon, Waller, Stearman, Ross, Duckworth, Hardbottle, Smith.

Blackpool: from Ballard, Charnley, Leather, Ainscough, Munro, Forber, Hemingway, Anderson, Keavney, Hobson, McCully, Halliwell, Haggerty, J Clough, Thomas, Mayberry, K Ratcliffe.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).