YORK City Knights boss James Ford has resisted temptation to rest a posse of big-hitters tomorrow ahead of the midweek showdown with North Wales as he looks to start a "big week for the club" with a bang.

Tomorrow's trip to London Skolars (3pm) is followed by Thursday night's key clash against the Crusaders and the visit of Hemel Stags three days later, and six points from six will stand the Knights in great stead for the play-offs going into the last two rounds of fixtures against fellow promotion hopefuls North Wales, again, and Barrow.

But, while big Colton Roche is the latest to be rested, and Liam Cunningham and Micky Learmonth are sidelined by minor injuries, joining luckless skipper James Haynes in the treatment room, Ford has otherwise named a powerful 17.

There is one surprise, though, with winger Jamel Chisholm brought in from the wilderness to face the team with whom he recently spent a loan spell.

"This is an important match," said Ford when asked if he had contemplated continuing his recent policy of rotation against League One's also-rans.

"Playing away from home makes it more difficult and London are an improving team who will want to knock us over.

"We've won nine of our last ten games but they'll be right up for it and we'll have to make sure we hit our standards.

"I've already rotated the team over the last few weeks and used different interchanges to reduce people's minutes. Jack Aldous virtually had a game off last week (after his early red card against Oxford) and Ed Smith had a week off (due to suspension). Colton gets a rest this weekend.

"The only one who hasn't been rested is Mark Applegarth but he's going really well and I want him to continue that form."

Speedster Chisholm, the former Leeds Rhinos academy try machine, has been named on the wing for the first time since March, with Ben Dent switching to full-back in the wake of James Haynes' season-ending injury.

Said Ford: "Jamel's a world-class athlete who's incredibly quick and strong and who is desperate to demonstrate his ability against the team he's been playing for on loan. I know he's really looking forward to the opportunity and I'm pleased he's finally got one."

Also coming into the team are fit-again Ryan Mallinder, loanee Brad Hey and Ed Smith.

Learmonth is still struggling with a knee injury but should be ready for Thursday, while Cunningham, below-par against Oxford, is said to have a minor knock too.

James Morland, who made his debut last week after returning to the club, Haynes and Roche are the other changes from the Oxford battle.

Skolars were thrashed by Swinton 74-4 last week and York have already beaten them 78-10 and 40-10 this year, but Ford expected no repeat heavy scoreline.

"I'm expecting a tough, hard-fought game and we'll have to show character again."

Skolars boss Jermaine Coleman said: "Swinton are a very clinical team, probably at the pinnacle of our league, and that’s where we need to be at. In many ways this week is a worst-case scenario because it’s the other team that in my opinion are head and shoulders above the rest and have got the potential to play very fast, as Swinton do.

“But in a roundabout way, it’s probably the best game for us because we’ve just been up against it so we know what level we need to be at to compete."

Knights (probable): B Dent, Chisholm, Craig, Minikin, Morrison, Howden, Presley, Applegarth, P Smith, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Mallinder. Subs: Brining, Blagbrough, Nicholson, Hey. Stand-by: A Dent, Carter.

l North Wales stars Stuart Reardon and Scott Turner have been ruled out for the season with broken hands. The Crusaders have already lost Player of the Year Gary Middlehurst, prolific try-scorer Jono Smith and Mark Hobson for the rest of 2015.