FORMER Hull FC speedster Callum Lancaster is to make his Bootham Crescent bow this weekend as York City Knights look to continue their rise up the Kingstone Press League One table.

The 20-year-old, a teenage Super League sensation when he blasted onto the scene with two hat-tricks in his first four top-tier appearances aged only 17, was 18th man for last week's win at Gloucestershire All Golds.

But he has got the nod for Sunday's visit of expansion club Coventry Bears, with head coach Ford resting veteran Tommy Saxton with one eye on the trip to Newcastle five days later.

Elsewhere, James Haynes is in line for a recall, while second-rower Liam Thompson, out for six weeks with a groin strain, is back in the 19-man squad just in time for the visit of his former club.

Veteran half-back Jonny Presley as expected replaces crocked scrum-half Harry Tyson-Wilson.

Lancaster, a former England Academy winger, is on trial with the Knights following his release by Hull.

Ford said: "We've got another game on Friday and I wasn't 100 per cent convinced Tommy (Saxton) would be able to play in both.

"We've got Callum Lancaster on trial. He came down to Gloucestershire and he's done what we've asked and has trained well.

"He was going to play this time or on Friday and we felt he deserved it this week, as opposed to Tommy not deserving it. On Friday we'll go with the best two from three (Lancaster, Saxton and Dee Foggin-Johnston)."

Haynes is competing for a place in the centres with Nev Morrison and Nick Rawsthorne - although it would be a surprise if Rawsthorne is left out after his brilliant four-try haul last week.

Likewise it would be surprising if Thompson usurped either of the three back-rowers on show last week in skipper Ed Smith, fellow former Coventry star Joe Batchelor and Brad Hey.

Ford was nevertheless delighted to have the option, and would not rule out throwing him in against his old team-mates.

"Liam's worked really hard in his rehab and deserves to be part of the squad," he said.

"Hopefully he'll kick on from this and we'll get him back to the standards I've seen him play at previously."

He added: "The three back-rowers (Smith, Batchelor, Hey) are playing really well but having a fourth who can also play in the middle gives us extra competition and ensures we can go with a fresh team."

Tyson-Wilson's knee injury suffered in the Gloucestershire game has been confirmed as a grade 1-2 medial ligament sprain which will sideline him for four to five weeks.

Player/assistant-coach Presley will therefore pair up in the halves with Liam Harris for the first time.

Ford said: "I was happy with what Harry's been doing. Longer term, Harry and Liam can mature into a fine partnership. In the short-term, Jonny will slot straight in. He's excited to play and I'm happy to get him out there."

Coventry twice took the lead against Keighley last week and were a match for their more illustrious visitors for long periods, only to lose 44-24. Winger Mikey Russell scored his maiden hat-trick and lively full-back Harry Chapman a brace.

Asked if he expected another comfortable win after the Gloucestershire glee, Ford said: "We're focusing on working hard, playing with energy and tenacity and doing the small things that make up a good rugby league team.

"We're preparing for a tough encounter. They're a side that can attack - they scored 20-plus points against a good Keighley team and they pushed Doncaster not long ago."

Knights: from Robson, Lancaster, Morrison, Haynes, Rawsthorne, Foggin-Johnston, Harris, Presley, Ellis, Jubb, Siddons, Dixon, Spears, B Tyson-Wilson, Porter, Batchelor, E Smith, Hey, Thompson.

Coventry: from Aldred, Beddows, Brierley, Chapman, Delaney, Freeman, Geurtjens, Gover, Hughes, Hunte, Johnson, Medforth, Prior, Reid, Russell, Sharratt, Gaylor, Morrison, Barratt.