CRISIS club York City Knights will travel to France tomorrow with only 16 players - including a debutant plus James Haynes in his first outing in almost 12 months.

That's assuming Saturday's Super 8s clash with League One leaders Toulouse Olympique is given the go-ahead.

Head coach James Ford nevertheless says getting the match played would be a victory for his troops regardless of the result, given "what they have gone through this past week".

Four first-team stars have not been able to get time off work at short notice after the off-field controversy left the match - and the club's future - in severe doubt.

Even last night the game was not yet definitely on, although confirmation was expected today should the Knights office submit their match-day squad - which has to be done by 2pm two days before a game.

Player/assistant-coach Mark Applegarth has an appointment, for person reasons, which cannot be changed at late notice so he too stays home, while hooker Kriss Brining has a family funeral.

To make matters worse, Harry Tyson-Wilson was yesterday recalled from his loan by parent club Hull, while Ben Dent withdrew after picking up a neck injury in training on Tuesday night.

All that left head coach James Ford down to only 15 available players, plus Haynes on his return ahead of schedule from a knee reconstruction.

That initial 15 includes Brandon Westerman, whose loan from Castleford Tigers was agreed just before the Knights were sent into turmoil last Thursday with the announcement by chairman John Guildford that the club were to close.

Westerman has had only one training session with his new team so far, given last Thursday's was abandoned, but will be thrown in for his debut in the most testing of circumstances against the powerful French hosts.

Ford says he would have registered as a player and named himself on the bench - 22 months since he last donned any boots - had the transfer deadline not passed last Friday, on a day when it seemed the team's promising season was to be hacked short.

Other potential deadline-day recruitment was cancelled given the situation.

Said Ford: "Obviously it's disappointing to have so many players missing for such an important game - but the most important thing is we go there and play.

"As a group whenever we've been backed into a corner we've found ways to come out.

"The most important thing is the game goes ahead. That in itself is a victory for these boys, whose efforts should be acknowledged.

"With everything they've been through this week, it's unbelievable for them to be at the club - it shows yet again what character they've got."

He added: "Don't write us off. We'll go there and give it our best shot, even with 15 players and one bloke who's not played for a year."

The original scheduling of this Toulouse trip so soon into the Super 8s - these fixtures were announced only a fortnight ago - made it difficult for players to get time off in the first place, especially just a month after they had to do likewise for the regular-season trek to the south of France.

The off-field saga, though, made it an impossible call, given it has been unclear if the game will take place.

The players - genuine title contenders heading in the Super 8s - were all told last Thursday they would be made free agents but stuck together in the hope a resolution could save their season.

The lads who cannot now get out of work for this long weekend away include half-back Danny Nicklas and front-rowers Brett Waller, Russ Spiers and Jack Anderson - leaving Jack Aldous as the only recognised prop in the travelling party.

Dent, meanwhile, joins Austin Buchanan (ankle), Tyler Craig (back) and long-term crocks Micky Learmonth, Ross Divorty and Ryan Mallinder on the injury list.

Loanees Adam Robinson and Sam Smeaton were recalled by parent club Halifax last week.

Ford, a Wakefield College tutor as well as Knights boss, said: "The lads have to book time off work to go across to France and given the uncertainty around the game I can sympathise with how difficult it's been to make that call. Some employers haven't been overly helpful either but that's understandable.

"It would have been difficult for me to go across again at short notice had it been in term time.

"The lads have their own financial concerns and the lack of clarity around the situation hasn't helped.

"I'm disappointed we're not a full-strength but I understand the situation the blokes are in. We'll still give it our best shot, you can be sure of that."