JAMES FORD reckons neither side will blame injuries regardless of the outcome in tonight's big League One clash at Elmpark Way - while rival boss Anthony Murray has warned not to underestimate his depleted ranks.

Ford's York City Knights side, shorn of captain James Haynes for the rest of the campaign, will also be without Tyler Craig against play-off rivals North Wales after he picked up a knock in Sunday's win at London Skolars.

However, Murray's Crusaders outfit have endured worse luck, with six players now ruled out for the season - hooker Callum Wright the latest after breaking an arm in Sunday's defeat to Swinton. Player of the year Gary Middlehurst, prolific try-scorer Jono Smith, Mark Hobson, former Super League star Stuart Reardon and Scott Turner are the others.

Nevertheless, York's head coach said: "They've got a squad that competed in the Championship last year and they're a good enough team to cope with injuries.

"The players coming in will want to demonstrate how good they are and that they should be first choice.

"Every club have their injuries - we've got ours - but we all know it's part and parcel of rugby league. We won't be making excuses about ours and I'm sure they won't be making any about theirs."

Both sides are playing three games in a week, too, though Crusaders' recent outings have been tougher on paper - bruising defeats to fellow play-off contenders Rochdale and Swinton.

Ford said his side might feel the after-effects of their efforts more so come the weekend, when Hemel visit, rather than tonight, even though a few players were noticeably limping when leaving New River Stadium on Sunday.

"I don't think playing Sunday-Thursday is going to be an issue. I think the issue will come later down the track," he said.

"We had recovery plans in place after Sunday's game and we've adjusted accordingly what we've done through the week.

"They will be feeling pretty fresh (today) and I didn't see need to rotate the team much for this game.

"Playing Thursday then Sunday is a shorter turnaround and there might be one or two changes for that game."

As reported, Adam Dent will replace Jamel Chisholm on the wing and Liam Cunningham returns for the injured Tyler Craig at centre. Colton Roche will be back on the bench, with Ford was also deciding whether to bring fit-again Micky Learmonth in too.

Murray, meanwhile, said: “We’re down to our last 16. We’ve also got Ryan Duffy playing with a quad strain. I’ve got to take my hat off to the players and we need to give them credit.

“I think it’s going to be massively tough (to make the play-offs) with the injuries we have.

“We’re sending some players out there who are only 50 per cent fit, but I’d rue the person who backs against us and underestimates us.”

On the loss to Swinton, he added: “We had loads of opportunities in that first half, but we only had a 40 per cent completion rate. I lost count of the amount of times we knocked on and you just can’t give Swinton that much ball. They’re quality and they’ll punish you. They’re the best team we’ve played by a country mile and I think they’ll go on to win it."

Knights (probable): B Dent, A Dent, Cunningham, Minikin, Morrison, Howden, Presley, Applegarth, P Smith, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Mallinder. Subs: from Brining, Nicholson, Roche, Blagbrough, Learmonth, Hey.