HEAD coach James Ford has admitted not knowing York Rugby League have not reached a knockout cup final since 1978 – but is optimistic recent experiences of losing play-off semi-finals will help them put that right.

The City Knights face Gloucestershire All Golds at Bootham Crescent tomorrow for a place in next month's iPro Sport League One Cup final.

Victory would give York their first cup final since the old Yorkshire Cup in 1978, when they lost 18-8 to Bradford Northern.

They have reached promotion play-off finals since, with the new Knights club losing to Halifax in 2004 and beating Oldham in 2010.

But it is the agonising extra-time defeat in the play-off semi against Swinton last year, allied to similar losses to Hunslet and Oldham 12 months earlier, that Ford hopes will act as incentive for his men tomorrow.

"If I'm honest, I wasn't aware we hadn't been in a cup final for that long," said Ford, whose club's last knockout semi-final was an Arriva Trains Cup loss to Hull KR 12 years ago.

"We're very keen to give the supporters something to be proud about this year. It will be great for them if we can get there – but we face a massive hurdle on Sunday, which is Gloucestershire.

"We need to focus on them as they're a very good team. But if we get our performance right and hit our standards, there's a good chance we can win."

On recent experiences, Ford added: "This club has had three semi-finals in the past two years and lost all three. It's about time we started winning them.

"When we lost to Swinton last year, we spoke about learning from the experience. That was a really emotional day – we'd put so much into it, you saw grown men shed tears.

"That kind of emotion is powerful. The players will remember that and I'm sure that will increase their focus for this game.

"There's a slightly different mentality, playing knockout games. Hopefully we can get in that final and bring a bit of much-needed sporting cheer to the city."

The iPro Cup probably does not hold the same weight as the old Yorkshire Cup or the play-offs, yet Ford said: "Realistically there's a limited number of trophies that this club can currently play for – and this is one of them.

"We will therefore do our utmost to get in that final and give supporters of sport in this area a good day out."

Ford, whose team will be big favourites against the All Golds expansion club, makes several changes to the side that unimpressed in the second half of last week's routine but uninspiring League One win over South Wales Scorpions.

As expected, Brett Turner starts at full-back for the injured Richard Wilkinson, while fit-again Ryan Mallinder is a like-for-like replacement in the second row for the crocked Josh Tonks. Ed Smith is also back after being rested, in place of Jack Anderson.

Ben Dent is dropped, with James Morland back in his stead on the wing, while fellow three-quarter Brad Hey is also left out, with Jordan Crowther – normally a second-row – staying in the back line after finishing last week's game at centre.

Jonny Presley is back as expected at stand-off and Russ Spiers returns to add oomph to the pack off the bench. Matty Dale, who has missed the last two games after his debut at Hemel, remains on the sidelines due to illness this week.

On Dent, Ford said: "I believe in Ben – he's got exceptional skills for an outside back and his record speaks for itself – but I've put a competitive squad together to bring the best out of people and if they don't reach the standards I expect of them, someone else will come in.

"What Ben served up last week was not quite up to the levels he plays at."

Ford was delighted to have Mallinder back, the second-row having been out since the iPro quarter-final against Rochdale in early April.

He said: "Josh Tonks was excellent against Dewsbury and again last week. He will be a big loss – but Ryan was in excellent form before his injury and it's a timely boost for him to come back.

"He's looking forward to getting out there and bringing his physical, aggressive style back to the team."

Knights: Turner, Morland, Crowther, Craig, Buchanan, Presley, Nicklas, Waller, Carter, Aldous, Mallinder, E Smith, Emmett. Subs: Brining, Applegarth, Spiers, Osbourne. Stand-by: P Smith, Hey.