YORK City Knights boss James Ford has dismissed the notion that North Wales Crusaders are a bogey side for his team - but he has stressed his troops cannot rest on their laurels.

The Knights go to Wrexham tomorrow (2.30pm) with a head-to-head record of only one win in five meetings since their hosts were relegated back to Betfred League One in 2014.

Each of those contests have been crackers, too, with one game drawn - Tyler Craig rescuing his home-town club York with a last-ditch try and touchline conversion in the 2016 clash - and both 2015 matches ending 30-28, with one victory each. The Crusaders bagged a league and cup double early last season, triumphing 26-22 in the league and 17-16 after extra time in their knockout encounter.

Ford said those results counted for little this weekend.

"Historically we've not performed as well as we would've liked against North Wales," he said. "But lets credit them for performing well - on the occasions they beat us, they deserved it.

"This is a different season with different squads. We're not looking at previous results. What interests us is making sure our attitude is up there with what we saw against Workington.

"We were also composed with the ball and were willing to build pressure and remain patient."

Aside those omens, Ford's second-placed team will travel as favourites against a home side currently sat 10th, especially after that impressive 40-8 victory over the Cumbrians while the Welshmen were losing 50-12 at leaders Bradford.

York's head coach, though, has not ruled out the Crusaders rising into the promotion mix - saying the league competition remains tight as it hits the midway point of the season.

"North Wales are still in the mix. If they put five or six wins together they will be in the top five," he reasoned.

"They've got a good coach (in Anthony Murray) and play an attacking brand of rugby league.

"They will test us, trying to generate numbers on us, and they have some big fellas who take some handling.

"They're certainly a threat. Lots of clubs are talking about how impressive the standard is in League One and North Wales are a better side than ninth or 10th. I'm sure they'll move up. The club itself I'm sure will continue to solidify and improve."

He added: "There are lots of quality sides in a really tight league.

"Just because we're second does not mean we can take our foot off the gas - just the opposite. We need to improve to maintain where we are and hopefully advance on that."