York City Knights boss Dave Woods is contemplating throwing a few youngsters into the mix for Saturday’s Northern Rail 9s in Blackpool.

He could also give some first-teamers a run-out in the reserves at Whitehaven on Sunday to build the match fitness of those returning from injury – including possibly Danny Allan, who went off with concussion suffered at Hunslet on Sunday.

The new format for the 9s tournament, which this year is held over one day only, sees the 18 competing teams – the English-based Championships clubs barring the Northern Rail Cup finalists, Batley and Widnes – split into three groups of four, each playing the other team in their group, and two groups of three, each playing the teams in the opposing groups.

Each team plays three games, and all the results are then compiled in one composite table, with the top four going into the semi-finals.

The Knights begin their 9s campaign against Workington at 12.30pm and play Whitehaven at 1.30pm before waiting to finish their group section against Keighley at 4.30pm.

The final is scheduled to start at 6.30pm. Matches are nine minutes each way.

Woods said: “We’re going to give a couple of blokes a rest to get over a couple of niggles, like Jordan Ross, who’s been playing really good. We’ll give a couple of young blokes a run at the 9s.

“Some players will get a bit of game-time in the reserves as well.”

Northern Rail 9s Pool 1: Dewsbury, Rochdale, Swinton, Gateshead; Pool 2: Featherstone, Barrow, Oldham, Sheffield; Pool 3: Keighley, Workington, York City Knights, Whitehaven; Pool 4: Doncaster, Blackpool, London Skolars; Pool 5: Halifax, Hunslet, Leigh.