JAMES FORD has hailed the home-grown talent in his York City Knights ranks ahead of the trip to Swinton Lions tomorrow.

As revealed by The Press this week, Ford is bringing Castleford winger James Clare in on dual- registration for tomorrow’s tough trip to Park Lane, and it has now been confirmed the 24-year-old will replace local product Adam Dent in the line-up.

But - going up against a club who received stick in 2013 for their “over-use” of dual-reg during their partnership with Warrington - York’s head coach was quick to defend his club’s record of developing players and not relying on borrowed stars.

The Knights used four Cas players last year, in Ben Reynolds effectively on a long loan, Brad Day for four games, and Tigers first-teamers Jake Webster and Dan Fleming for one apiece. Asked how he intends to use the partnership this term, Ford said: “We’ll play it by ear week by week.

“I’ve got a job to win games for York but I’ve also got a role to bring on our own players and make sure we carry on with our pretty good record of developing North Yorkshire players.

“In the team that beat Coventry last week, nine had come through our under-20s reserves pathway and the standard of performance they gave was pretty outstanding.

“But if I feel it suits us tactically to bring in a dual-reg player, I will do. We have to give players a pathway to develop, but we have to have the best team possible out on the field.”

The nine last week comprised North Yorkshire products Adam and Ben Dent, Harry Carter, Kriss Brining, Greg Minikin, Tyler Craig and Ed Smith, plus Jack Pickles and Ryan Mallinder, who rose through the reserves after being plucked from amateur rugby. Pat Smith is another York-born ace.

With Adam Dent omitted and Brining crocked, that number will be down to seven tomorrow, but with Craig pencilled in to continue in the threequarters despite the arrival of Lee Waterman, who is likely to vie for a place on the bench.

Liam Cunningham is another option at centre if passed fit, while Colton Roche and Jack Pickles both also face late tests as they eye a return.

As reported, Casey Canterbury will make his debut as Brining’s hooking replacement, while on-loan Micky Learmonth is poised to start at loose-forward. James Haynes remains sidelined.

Swinton, meanwhile, have ended their partnership with Warrington but still have only one Swintonian in their current squad, in winger Alex Hurst. He didn’t play in their win at Gloucestershire last week.

Knights (probable): B Dent, Clare, Minikin, Craig, Morrison, P Smith, Presley, Applegarth, Carter, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Learmonth.

Subs: from Canterbury, Roche, Waterman, Cunningham, Pickles, Nicholson.