YORK City Knights boss James Ford is expecting a positive reaction from Ben Dent tomorrow night - after revealing last year's top scorer is not now a "probable" to start the new season.

Dent bagged 20 touchdowns in 23 appearances last year in his first season as a fully-fledged first-team winger, finishing as the joint-second top scorer in Championship One with 18.

But he is set to start tomorrow's "Probables v Possibles" encounter in the second team, punishment for a "minor breach" of club discipline - thought to be arriving late for training.

Ford, trying to instil hard but fair professionalism in his maiden year as a head coach, said the 23-year-old was still in his thoughts to kick off the season when the Knights go to London Skolars for their League Cup first-round tie a week on Sunday - but Tyler Craig, along with big signing Nev Morrison, are currently first in line.

"Ben has got a fantastic approach to life and rugby league but I think there are one or two things he can improve on and off the field," said Ford.

"I've spoken to him, though. The boys who play the best (tomorrow) will play a week on Sunday and there are two wing spots up for grabs."

Dent started both the friendlies against Hull and Featherstone, trying an experimental "attack from full-back, defend on the wing" role in the latter. Morrison and Craig were named as the two wingers that day.

Added Ford: "Tyler has been outstanding in training so will be in the (Probables) team. I expect a response from Ben, though.

"We stood Austin Bell down (for the friendly against Hull) when he did something I didn't like off the field and I have to maintain consistency with that approach. Ben understands and I'm very positive he will be really enthusiastic and eager to show he needs to be playing against London Skolars."

Also in the Possibles line-up will be two trialists - full-back cum half-back Kane Riley and second-row Jordan Rice, the former reserve who made one first-team substitute appearance in 2011 and returns to the club after a stint with expansion League One club Oxford.

Riley hails from Castleford and has come to York after his release from the Tigers' academy - and has already caught Ford's eye.

Said the head coach: "Kane is exciting - he's quick, strong, brave and smart and he's got an air of confidence. I like the look of him."

Of Rice, Ford said: "Jordan's now back up here and he wanted an opportunity to prove himself at a club like York. We've given him that opportunity and if he can improve and demonstrate he's of the standards we're looking for he will be in there.

"He's got some experience of this level and gives us more competition for places."