THE white-hot atmosphere of Elland Road promises to provide a baptism of fire for young Cherries keeper Ryan Pryce.

The rookie 18-year-old is likely to be severely tested should he get the nod to face League One giants Leeds United on Saturday.

And Cherries number one Neil Moss has backed the youngster as he prepares for his opportunity on the big stage.

"I hope he's given a chance," said Moss, who was ruled out for the season with a wrist injury after visiting a hand physio on Friday.

"There's a lot of talk about experience and you're not going to get it unless someone gives you that opportunity.

"He's played two full games and more or less two half-games and on all four occasions he's done really well."

With Moss sidelined and Gareth Stewart, the club's other senior keeper, sustaining a broken ankle against Hartlepool at the weekend, Pryce is in line for his third start of the campaign in West Yorkshire.

"It's hostile but I'm sure the adrenaline will be pumping for him," Moss told the Daily Echo.

"In some ways, it's the best thing that could happen. Going out there in front of 27,000 Leeds fans, if he can go there and do it he can go to smaller places.

"I really hope he gets to play at Leeds and does well. If that happens, there's no reason he can't go on while Gareth is out of the side."

Cherries' head of youth Joe Roach also backed the credentials of Pryce, who has tasted victory in both his full first-team appearances this term.

"You can only look back at the games he's played," said Roach. "I know he's been quite nervous internally but he hasn't shown that in any decisions he's made.

"Hopefully he can try to develop his game and if he's going to have a run of games it will give him a great opportunity come the end of the season when decisions are being made about next season, because he's in the last year of his apprenticeship.

"I'm delighted for the opportunity for the lad. It's not something that's happened for a goalkeeper since I've been here.

"I'm very proud of the way he's gone about it."

Roach feels the trip to Leeds would represent a "fantastic opportunity" for Pryce.

He said: "If you want to play this level of football, in League One you're not always going to have the opportunity to play in front of 28,000, possibly 30,000 people.

"The hairs are up on the back of my neck thinking about the situation.

"It's a big stage, a very historic team but it's one of the teams you'd want to play against at any stage of your career and he's got the opportunity at such a young age."

Leeds have an average home league attendance of just over 27,000, while the biggest crowd Pryce has played in front of so far this term is 5,419.

It is understood Cherries would only be permitted to draft in a replacement keeper should Pryce become injured due to a Football League transfer embargo.