JAMES FORD has hailed the growing strength in his pack as York City Knights prepare to visit Hemel Stags.

Ford will be without Ryan Mallinder, who gets married this weekend, as well as big-hitting prop Colton Roche, who remains on the road to recovery from a broken thumb.

But he has both Micky Learmonth and Brad Nicholson back for tomorrow's League One trip to Hertfordshire (2.30pm), with the strength in numbers leading him to omit Jack Pickles during arguably the former Milford amateur's best run of form since arriving at the club two years ago.

Huddersfield prop Learmonth resumes his loan spell after injury and Nicholson, man of the match in the eye-catching win over Rochdale a fortnight ago, returns after a "very minor breach of club discipline" saw him dropped for last week's victory over London Skolars.

Said head coach Ford: "We've got some good players competing for middle places.

"Micky is very tough - he tackles hard and carries the ball hard - and is a dominant figure. It's good to have him back in.

"I was a tough decision to leave Jack Pickles out. He's doing really well and he's already played more games this year than in previous seasons and he will certainly play more matches.

"I thought the middle unit were good against the Skolars but I want to see how Micky's going and we've got a run of tough fixtures coming up and we need to keep people fresh and focused."

As reported, club captain Pat Smith is unavailable this weekend due to work but fit-again Kriss Brining is a natural replacement at hooker - making it three changes in total to the 17 that saw off the Skolars, with Castleford threequarters James Clare and Michael Channing remaining on dual-reg.

Pickles and Tyler Craig, along with team captain James Haynes who is on his way back from injury, will also travel.

The Knights go as favourites against an expansion club who sit 12th with three wins from ten, and who have conceded more points than every other team barring whipping boys South Wales Scorpions.

But Ford said: "Hemel have a decent record at home and can be hard to beat. I watched their game against Barrow and they competed well in numerous areas.

"The full-back (Derrell Olpherts) is a big, strong, athletic thing - we'll have to take into account his whereabouts - and Jy-Mel Coleman kicks well. Their middle unit is big and if they get momentum they will fancy their chances.

"We need to get on the front foot and once we've got a bit of tempo we can shift the ball around a bit and utilise our skilful nature."

For the hosts, former Knights forward Brooke Broughton, who joined Hemel this year, is a doubt with a leg injury but James Woodburn-Hall is poised to return.

Stags boss Troy Perkins, referring to their 38-10 defeat to Barrow last week, said: “I thought we showed character when times got tough but again we probably conceded a couple of soft tries and turned over too much ball.

“The better teams make you pay and that’s what we’ve got to improve on.

“This week is another big challenge. They’ve got a couple of outside-backs from Castleford, which has given them a bit more out wide. But we’ve got to focus on our completion rate, which has to be better. Our defence hasn’t been too bad but you can’t tackle for long periods because you end up leaking tries no matter who you are.”

Knights (probable): B Dent, Clare, Channing, Minikin, Morrison, Presley, Howden, Applegarth, Brining, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Nicholson. Subs: Carter, Learmonth, Blagborough, Cunningham. Stand-by: Craig, Pickles, Haynes.