Knights need eight points from four games for Championship salvation

But he says defeat at home to basement side Hunslet a week tomorrow will consign them to relegation.

The Knights fell into the bottom two on Thursday night when they lost 34-10 at Swinton, who leapfrogged them out of the drop zone.

It was York’s seventh straight defeat, a run which has seen them fall from the fringes of the play-offs into deep peril.

“I think we need a minimum of eight points – two wins and two bonus points,” said Wilson.

“If we lose next Sunday, we will have to win all three of our other games, which is a tall order.

“Eight points gives us a reasonable chance of staying up.

“It might not be enough if there are a couple more freak results, but then we might not need that many if other teams don’t pick up points as you’d expect.”

York are one point ahead of Hunslet but three behind Swinton, Barrow and Keighley, albeit with a better points-difference than that trio.

“Next Sunday is must-win, or it’s all over,” said Wilson, whose team then go to Workington and Doncaster before finishing at home to Batley.

“If we win we’d need five points from three games. Assuming Swinton pick up points as you’d expect from their last three games, that would put us level with them, and we have a better points-difference.

“I think it’s between Hunslet, York and Swinton. I think Keighley might just get enough looking at their fixtures. Barrow I think will be okay as well.

“If we beat Hunslet, I’d say that was them down. Then it comes down to a shoot-out between us and Swinton.

“Realistically what are Swinton going to get from their three games? If Swinton get five points, we need to get eight.

“We’re still relying on other people but we would be relying on something unexpected to happen in order to stay up with less than these eight points.”

He added: “If we have to beat Batley at home on the last day, I would fancy us. Hunslet has to be the focus now, though. Win and we’ve got a chance.”