JAMES FORD reckons tomorrow's grudge clash at Bootham Crescent has the makings of a Ladbrokes Challenge Cup cracker – with the hallmarks of an unstoppable force meeting an unmovable object.

Head coach Ford admits his York City Knights side are not yet firing on all cylinders in possession but they have been largely dominant in defence, letting in only three tries in three matches this term, one when down to 12 men because of injury.

Opponents Keighley, meanwhile, after scraping past amateurs Wath Brow in an iPro Sport Cup mudbath, have been irresistible in attack, racking up 142 points in three outings, albeit while conceding 76.

Ford said: "One team is probably firing a bit better with the ball and one with defence. I've seen Keighley two or three times and they're everything you'd expect from a Paul March team – they're crafty, innovative and willing to attack from anywhere.

"They've got some outstanding individuals, some who bring a degree of uncoachable excellence. The likes of Richie Hawkyard at the back – they've got three exciting returners of the ball and they will look to cause us problems.

"There'll be many more little battles that will take place between two good teams. But at this stage of the season if you're defending as well as we are, you're not going to be too far away.

"We've got a high degree of physicality about us and there's a more ruthless attitude about our 'D' this year. We've conceded less than one line break per game in the three competitive fixtures.

"We're aware Keighley will be a harder test. Paul Handforth is an excellent player, James Feather asks questions and they have some big physical things in the middle. It has all the ingredients of a fantastic game."

Keighley's run includes a 44-28 League One defeat to Doncaster last week while the Knights had time off.

Ford is well aware they will be out to make amends, especially on ex-Knights boss March's latest return to York, but he has backed his team to lift the intensity after two straightforward victories and hammer into the Cougars like they did Hunslet on the opening day.

"Rugby league players are proud people – they will be upset to have conceded 40-plus points," Ford said of Keighley.

"I thought they were a bit unlucky on occasions, with a couple of tries ruled out as well, but Marchy's pride will be knocked and they'll be looking for a response this weekend."

On his own team's form, Ford said: "I'm pretty happy with what what we've been serving up. It's three wins from three and we've only conceded three tries. There are parts of our attacking play I'd like to improve, but we've still scored plenty of points.

"It's been a bit stop-start for us – we didn't play for five weeks before the Hunslet game because of the (pre-season) call-offs, then we had back-to-back games at nowhere near the intensity I would have liked, and then we had the blank weekend.

"Those two games were far too slow and sometimes you can pick up bad habits with things like that. We still need more time on the field to help us find our best combinations and become more dangerous on the edges like last year."

With League One resuming on Good Friday – when the Knights face another grudge match against fellow title hopefuls Doncaster and ex-boss Gary Thornton – it leaves Ford's men with two tough games in five days.

Asked where the cup comes in their list of priorities, Ford said: "Our major focus is the league and trying to get this club where it belongs. But we really respect the Challenge Cup. It's a competition we all grew up watching and we want to be in it for as long as possible.

"Winning the cup isn't our focus but we'd love the opportunity to play St Helens again like last year, or a Leeds, Hull or Warrington. To earn the right to do that, we have to beat a very good Keighley team."

As previously revealed by The Press, fit-again winger Austin Buchanan comes in for his debut, with Brett Turner perhaps unlucky to make way after three tries in three games to date.

Back-rower Ryan Mallinder also returns after illness in a straight swap for on-loan Jordan Crowther, who has been recalled by Wakefield Trinity as they do not want him cup-tied.

Knights (probable): Wilkinson, Buchanan, Bower, Hey, Morland, Presley, Nicklas, Waller, Carter, Aldous, Mallinder, E Smith, Emmett. Subs: Brining, Applegarth, Spiers, Tonks. Stand-by: A Dent, Turner.