"I HOPE that the team who perform better on the day win - and nothing else comes into the equation."

Those were the words of Hunslet boss Barry Eaton ahead of his side's Kingstone Press Championship One do-or-die semi-final at York City Knights tomorrow.

Eaton is well aware of the controversial refereeing performance given by George Stokes as the Knights lost their opening play-off against Oldham and, with Stokes once again in charge tomorrow, there are fears the St Helens whistler's every decision could face fire from either side, especially with no video referees available as back-up. Eaton, though, is hoping the officials stay in the background and not unduly affect the outcome.

Eaton said: "There has been some contentious stuff going on, not just in last week's (York v Oldham) game but in every division.

"We (in the Championships) haven't got the advantage of having video referees like in Super League but it means just as much to ourselves and to York as it does for Super League sides wanting to get into their Grand Final or the Challenge Cup final.

"There will be nerves and tension on both sides and that may play a part.

"My wish is that the game is decided by the players and by who plays better on the day."

Eaton is poised to field the same 17 that thrashed Gateshead last week to storm into tomorrow's elimination semi-final after they too had lost to Oldham in their opening play-off tie.

However, the head coach is toying with the idea of throwing in Luke Hardbottle for a debut a fortnight after he arrived back in England after his spell down under.

The second-row became a firm favourite at York - helping them to 2010 play-off glory - before moving to Australia, with Hunslet beating the Knights to his signature on his return.

"Luke hasn't played for over a month but he's trained this week with us and is in really good condition," said Eaton. "It (playing Hardbottle) wasn't something we had planned on doing but we signed him before the deadline with the idea that if we had injuries he would come into the reckoning."

The Hawks have since seen Ross Peltier and Danny Grimshaw join a lengthy injury list, although Luke Briscoe has trained this week after taking a shoulder blow last Sunday.

Eaton added of York's three-out-of-three record against the Hawks in the league this year: "It might have an effect mentally but in games like this it boils down to what happens on the day.

"There will be lots of positional battles and lots of intensity. The teams that deals with it all the best will win.

"York and Hunslet both had designs on getting to the Grand Final and both are capable of getting there and winning it."

l Hunslet have signed London Skolars' top scorer Mufaro Mvududu for 2015. Jimmy Watson and Danny Ansell have also agreed contract extensions.