JAMES FORD insists York City Knights have no interest in gaining "revenge" at Whitehaven tomorrow.

He also says going to Cumbria holds no fears for his Betfred League One table-toppers, who are looking to equal a club record run of 10 consecutive league wins, set by Gary Thornton's class of 2014.

Memories of York's epic play-off loss at Haven last September are still fresh and painful, with 10 of the team that played that day in the squad for this weekend's rematch.

Moreover, the Knights have not won in four visits to the Rec since being re-formed in 2003, and have notched only three wins in 19 trips to the Cumbrian coast as a whole (taking in Whitehaven, Barrow and Workington) since 2005.

Haven also won all three matches against York last season, home and away.

Asked if his team sought revenge, head coach Ford said: "No. Last year has gone. Last week has gone. We will focus on this game and these 80 minutes.

"We know these guys will test us for 80 minutes and we will need to be at our very best.

"We don't need extra motivation.

"We're going up there to equal a club record winning run in League One.

"This is certainly a better side than the one that holds that record, and it's a much tougher competition. There is a very good team in our way in Whitehaven.

"We're prepared to work incredibly hard and fight incredibly hard to make sure we keep that run going.

And asked if they travelled with trepidation given the club's poor record on the far side of the Lake District, Ford said: "None at all. We can't wait to get up there."

Whitehaven's five-match winning run in the league surprisingly ended at North Wales Crusaders earlier this month and they then lost to Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup sixth round, but they comfortably beat London Skolars last time out and they remain in the promotion mix.

Tomorrow's contest starts a tough schedule for player-coach Carl Forster's men, with in-form Hunslet, Newcastle and Bradford Bulls to follow.

But Forster is relishing the challenge. “We are desperate to get some points because we want to be where we were last season, second in the league and certain of being in the play-offs, if not better," he said.

“This is a big set of fixtures because, if we can perform as I know we can, we are capable of getting important wins on the board.

“If we don’t perform and get the right results, it’s going to make it that bit harder for us to be where we want to be."

Said Ford: "They will be up there. They've got a lot of good individuals.

"The two half-backs, Dion Aiye and (Callum) Phillips, are running threats, Forster and the blokes in the middle like (Marc) Shackley and (Kris) Coward are big lumps who take some handling, and they've got a young kid on loan from St Helens at nine - Josh Eaves - who is really lively.

"They're a good team. We know it's going to be a real challenge for us - and we're looking forward to it."