JAMES FORD'S class of 2018 will travel to Whitehaven on Sunday eyeing up another York City Knights club record - but facing "adversity" again in their bid to achieve it.

Head coach Ford had hoped to have dual-reg aces Matty Marsh and Will Dagger available for the long League One trek to the Cumbrian coast but the former has an abdomen issue so was not made available while the latter was called up to Hull KR's squad for their Super League game against Wigan tonight.

It again leaves the Knights with only Connor Robinson as a recognised half-back as they seek to equal a club best of 10 consecutive league wins.

Previously, Ben Cockayne has filled in at stand-off but, with Kieren Moss gone, he is now needed in the backs, and so this time Graeme Horne - normally a prop - is set to be utilised in the unfamiliar play-making role.

There is one dual-reg player involved, with prop Jordan Walne poised to make his second Knights appearance, while there is a welcome return to the party for Harry Carter after three months out with knee ligament damage.

Fellow hooker Andy Ellis and backs Jake Butler-Fleming and Judah Mazive also return from injury, while Colton Roche is confirmed in the squad after rejoining the club for a second loan spell from Huddersfield.

However, fellow prop Ronan Dixon is out with a shoulder issue, as is on loan hooker Dan Maskill with a minor groin problem, while a "couple" of players in Ford's provisional 20-man party face late fitness tests.

The additional strength and power in the side suggests the Knights - so fluent when rattling up a world record 144 points against West Wales and 90 last week against Hemel - might change their way of playing.

Ford said of having only one half-back: "It's a challenge. We're a team with a reputation for playing nice fancy stuff - but there are other ways to win games.

"We will make sure we're the hardest-working team on the field, willing to do what it takes to win, putting heads in where it hurts over and over again.

"We went to Doncaster in a similar situation with half-backs and outside-backs missing and we fought through. We'll need the same mentality up at Whitehaven."

Ford quipped that player/assistant-coach Horne "played a bit at half-back at under-14s level", but said he had "no issues" with throwing him into the deep end.

"He's played a little bit at half (in his pro career) and he drops in there for us in training," he explained. "Graeme's got good skills and a good understanding of all the roles on a rugby league field.

"He's played a number of positions at Super League level which highlights his intelligence and mental agility. I have no issues with him going in at half-back for us."

Haven's ground can be a dark, wet and muddy place to play, which may in some way have suited having an extra front-rower out there.

But Ford said: "It's been quite nice weather and the forecast is nice for Sunday as well. That suits our normal style.

"I think it's one where we will have to work even harder than we normally do, be willing to fight even harder than normal, and do whatever's required."

Ford also insisted the changes would put "no extra pressure" on in-form scrum-half Connor Robinson.

"Other people have got responsibilities as regards what we're going to do," he said. "Ben Cockayne will add a lot (from full-back), as will Andy Ellis, Will Jubb or Harry Carter (from hooker). Graeme Horne is also a very intelligent player. They will combine with other players to make sure we get the job done."

He added: "There's a lot of adversity but that will bring us together. We're an incredibly driven side, desperate to take the league points home."

On Carter's inclusion, Ford said: "There's an outside chance Harry will play. We wouldn't be taking him if he wasn't in contention.

"I'm very pleased he's back, and he will be pleased to be this close. He's different to our other nines and gives us another option. Whatever permutation we go with will have a lot of quality."

Full-back/winger Jordan Burns returns to Haven's squad in place of Danny Green, while Lewis Brown and Phil Lister are also in their 19, adding to the side that won at London Skolars last week.

Knights (possible): Cockayne, Mazive, Butler-Fleming, Hey, Robson, Horne, C Robinson, A Robinson, Ellis, Siddons, Batchelor, Scott, Spears. Subs: from Jubb, Roche, Walne, Porter, Hawksworth, Kelly, Carter.

Whitehaven (possible): Abram, Burns, Taylor, Mossop, Parker, Aiye, Phillips, Cooper, Tilley, Forster, Holliday, Thompson, Howarth. Subs from: Shackley, Coward, Gillam, Eaves.

* DEAN Roberts, Shaun Roberts and Jordan Gill have left Hunslet by mutual consent.

Roberts featured three times in 2018, and Roberts and Gill only once. Director of rugby Darren Williams told the club's website: “Shaun and Dean asked to leave citing lack of opportunities and Jordan has a long-standing knee injury."