INJURY-HIT York City Knights have been forced into a radical shake-up of the squad ahead of their trip to Rochdale Hornets tomorrow (3pm).

There will be five changes to the starting line-up that edged National League 2 outfit Dewsbury Rams in the Northern Rail Cup last week.

Head coach Mick Cook said: "We have no choice. We have lost three players since last week so we have got to shuffle things around a bit."

Matt Blaymire has been given the all-clear on his fractured elbow to return at full-back, pushing Lee Lingard onto the wing in place of Craig Farrell who pulled a hamstring mid-break on Sunday.

Adam Sullivan makes a timely return to the front row with Jamie Bovill ruled out with a groin flare-up.

In-form hooker Jim Elston is sidelined with a medial ligament strain in his left knee, although the prognosis is much better than first feared after it settled considerably during the week. His absence this week, though, sees Jonny Liddell in at nine with Jamaine Wray on the bench.

Trialist Dean Ripley, meanwhile, gets another chance to impress Cook with Scott Rhodes still out with his collar bone problem although he is back in training.

Said Cook: "We're making a decision on him (Ripley) next week but I need to see a bit more of him so he will have another chance."

Adding to the injury news is the confirmation that local hero Craig Forsyth has switched his attention to work - and may never return.

The 35-year-old prop had been determined to see out a final year in NL1 and had looked good in his few outings to date.

But off the field, work has taken hold and he has requested time-out.

"He's overpowered with work," said Cook. "His business has really taken off and he was really struggling to put the full commitment in. He's made the decision to take a break and concentrate on his work."

Whether or not he will be back remains unknown at present.

Added Cook: "It's difficult to say because he was at the backend of his career anyway but that's how it is at the moment."

Even without the injuries and absentees, the Knights knew they would always be up against it at highflying Rochdale.

Cook said: "They're a big strong side. They've got some good players and their form is speaking for the kind of team they are at the moment.

"They play the game very quickly so it's a bit of a task for us, but then every game from hereon in is. We've had our 'easy' games and they were in the Challenge Cup.

"We are playing the teams that are all up there as either established NL1 teams or ex-Super League.

"We just need to keep working hard, keep improving and keep playing the points and we won't be far away."

Updated: 09:40 Saturday, April 29, 2006