JAMES FORD insists York City Knights are treating tonight's final outing of pre-season as a "very serious" test - even if it is an in-house affair.

The Knights' last friendly, at Castleford, was cancelled to keep the hosts' pitch shipshape for Super League, so, with no other opponents available, the club instead arranged a "Probables v Possibles" encounter.

Given that York's only other hit-outs prior to the season opener at London Skolars a week on Sunday came against Hull on January 11 and Featherstone on January 18 - some six weeks before competitive action - tonight's encounter at York RUFC's Clifton Park (7.30pm) takes on considerably more significance for head coach Ford.

As such, he says the run-out - dividing the entire playing roster into two sides - is more than an opposed training session.

"We're treating it very seriously," he said. "We've picked what I think is currently our best available 13 based on how the players have been training and playing, but everyone knows there are places up for grabs for Skolars.

"I've been happy with a lot of the things we've done in the last six weeks but I don't know for sure what my best team is and I'm asking all the players to show me they should be in there.

"It's a very serious event for us and for the players, providing a platform to build cohesion and get some good match practice."

Ford stressed that those named in the Possibles line-up - including youngsters who are more likely to develop in the reserves this year - can still play their way into the team that takes to the field in the capital.

"If anyone wants to play against the Skolars they need to play well (tonight)," he said.

"I've made that clear to all the players. If they do the things I want them to do and do it the best, they will have a shirt.

"If the 'Possibles' play out of their skin, I would have no reservations in including them in the team."

Tonight's line-ups nevertheless give a strong indication of Ford's thinking for Skolars - and include the surprise inclusion in the Probables 17 of Liam Richmond.

The 17-year-old Fulford School student, back at the Knights after a spell in Castleford's academy, was thrown in as a substitute against Featherstone and clearly impressed the new boss.

He will be joined on the bench by fellow newcomer Brad Nicholson, as well as centre Greg Minikin, who will have his first outing of 2015 after hamstring trouble.

Newcomers in the starting 13 are threequarters Liam Cunningham, Pete Aspinall and Nev Morrison, with the bulk of the remainder being regulars from the side that lifted the 2014 Championship One crown.

Pat Smith and Jonny Presley - who was out of favour with former boss Gary Thornton during the second half of last season and missed this year's two friendlies through injury - get to team up at half-back for only the second time since June as they look to show Ford he doesn't need to sign another playmaker.

Hooker Kriss Brining also makes his 2015 bow after injury.

Player/assistant-coach Mark Applegarth, a shoo-in against Skolars, is not included in either line-up as he takes on a watching brief alongside Ford.

As reported by The Press, the Possibles, to be led by reserves boss Mick Ramsden, include last year's top-scorer Ben Dent, along with trialists Kane Reilly and Jordan Rice.

Two more trialists - 22-year-old Joe Ramsden, from amateurs Milford, and Josh Hinchcliffe, are set to start in the back row.

Also involved in the 19-man party are Alex Wilkins, an ex-Bradford U16s player now with New Earswick ARLC, George Mosey, a 16-year-old local lad who plays for Oulton ARLC, Peter Starling, a York St John University student, and Jack Stewart, a former Heworth ARLC junior released by Hull KR.

Prop Jay Leary (collarbone) will have a run if passed fit but winger Jamel Chisholm (ankle), full-back Josh Nicklin (ankle) and prop Austin Bell (knee) are out.

Admission is £2.

Team 1: Haynes, Craig, Cunningham, Aspinall, Morrison, Presley, P Smith, Roche, Carter, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Mallinder. Subs: Brining, Nicholson, Richmond, Minikin.

Team 2: Riley, B Dent, Hanson, Wilkins, A Dent, Glover, Batty, Pickles, Iley, Joynt, Ramsden, Rice, Hinchcliffe. Subs: Potter, Mosey, Starling, Stewart, Tomlinson, Leary.