YORK City Knights are close to making two eye-catching acquisitions of "proven quality" to follow up the capture of trialist half-back James Glover.

The news comes ahead of the Knights' second friendly of pre-season - away to Championship big guns Featherstone tomorrow - and, while the names of the duo in talks have not been revealed, The Press understands either signature would provide a huge fillip for fans concerned about the club's ongoing ground issues.

Tomorrow's game, which will be played at Pontefract RUFC's Moor Lane ground in Carleton (2pm) as Rovers' pitch undergoes maintenance work, will see autumn arrivals Liam Cunningham and Corey Hanson both make their club bows in the centres.

As for other potential new recruits, boss James Ford said: "We're still looking for one or two and we're pretty close to completing the squad.

"We're in talks. Details aren't over the line but I think we're close to securing one or two who would bring additional proven quality to the camp."

Ford would not say what positions the two play in but he was known to be seeking more half-backs to add to Pat Smith and Jonny Presley.

That is still the case despite the arrival of Glover, who has been training with York after being released by Featherstone and came off the bench in the friendly against Hull.

Said Ford: "We've agreed terms with James. He's worked hard in pre-season and is coming round to how we work.

"We have confidence in him and think he'll develop into a very good player."

He added: "Competition for places is something we're trying to create. The only place we haven't got an immense amount is at half-back, even though James is developing and showing lots of signs of promise, so we're still on the lookout there."

There is certainly competition at centre, with Cunningham, Hanson, Pete Aspinall, Nev Morrison, Greg Minikin, Tyler Craig and Adam Dent all vying for a spot.

Morrison and Craig will start on the wings tomorrow, and Aspinall in the second row, as Cunningham and Hanson, who joined from Championship clubs Doncaster and Sheffield respectively, get the chance to strut their stuff.

"I'm looking forward to seeing them play," said Ford, himself a centre as a player.

"Liam talks well, organises well and makes good reads. He brings the team a good degree of leadership.

"Corey's try-scoring record speaks for itself. If we can get him fit and firing, there's no reason he can't repeat those feats here."

York Press:

STARTING BERTH: York City Knights' Nev Morrison

As for competition for a shirt, Ford added: "The good thing is these players can play in different positions, such as on the wing or in the back row, which shows their skills are rounded.

"They understand how to play different positions and it means during games we can move things around and still be comfortable."

As reported by The Press, Ford is likely to throw in as substitutes several young reserves - Liam Richmond, Jordan Potter, Scott Talbot, Adam Swift, Stephen Batty and, if fit, Elliot Bulmer - while prop Austin Bell, who sat out the Hull friendly, will also make his 2015 bow.

Minikin, Presley, Josh Tonks and Kriss Brining remain sidelined, joined on the treatment table after the Hull game by Jamel Chisholm, Josh Nicklin, Jay Leary and Harry Carter, the latter's injury meaning Jack Iley will get a long run at hooker. Ed Smith and Bulmer are also doubtful tomorrow out after knocks in training.

Featherstone, in their last pre-season outing before their Championship campaign begins against Hunslet on February 16, are likely to field a strong side - one they hope will be pushing for promotion to Super League in the new-look league structure.

Said Ford: "They'll have a strong team whatever permutations they go with, and they will want momentum going into the season.

"They're well coached by a well-educated man in Andy Hay. It will be a really strong test for us. We're focusing again on the performance, not the result, concentrating on the positives from the Hull game and the areas we need to fix up."

Knights (probable): B Dent, Morrison, Hanson, Cunningham, Craig, P Smith, Haynes, Applegarth, Iley, Aldous, Mallinder, Aspinall, Roche. Subs: from A Dent, Bell, Nicholson, Joynt, Pickles, Glover, Potter, Talbot, Batty, Bulmer, Richmond, Swift.