YORK City Knights boss James Ford is confident big-hitting prop Colton Roche will be fit for Sunday's huge play-off semi-final at Swinton - and has revealed Nev Morrison might yet defy the injury odds given that rugby league players "aren't normal people".

Roche has missed the last three matches of the regular League One campaign after suffering a shoulder injury in the defeat to North Wales on August 20 but is in the frame for a recall for the do-or-die biggest game of the year - assuming he gets through training this week with no setbacks.

Said Ford: We need to get him through contacts this week but he's a possible.

"It would be great to have him back out there.

"We've not seen him too many times this year but he gives us something extra when he's firing."

Former Sheffield forward Roche, hampered by knocks and injuries all year, has played only 13 of the Knights' 28 games.

With Jack Aldous and assistant-coach Mark Applegarth probable shoo-ins for two of the three starting "middle unit" positions, and the in-form Brad Nicholson likely to fill either the other or one of the substitute berths, it looks like the 22-year-old, if fit, will be up against Jack Blagbrough, Ryan Mallinder and Micky Learmonth for the remaining slots.

Morrison, meanwhile, broke a finger in the revenge win over North Wales on September 6 and was told by docs he would be sidelined for six weeks.

However, Ford has not give up hope the former Sheffield and Doncaster wide-man will be back available in half that time. The 25-year-old had played on against the Crusaders - giving a performance that made amends for his nightmare in the reverse fixture 17 days earlier, despite his injury - and Ford says that shows his character.

Ford said: "Nev is a fantastic athlete and we'll see how he feels about playing.

"He's broken a metacarpal and a normal person would not be able to play, but rugby league players aren't normal people."

Young Adam Dent would be his likely deputy, like against Barrow, but fellow winger Jamel Chisholm is not out of Ford's thinking.

Dent has scored five tries in six appearances and Chisholm one in three either side of a loan spell at London Skolars.

Said Ford: "I thought Adam was really good against Barrow - he got that try and applied himself really well.

"He's getting closer and closer to being a really good player. He's been patient and contributed to the environment throughout the year.

"Jamma is a fantastic athlete. If you get the ball in open spaces everyone would want him to have it - he's so quick no-one would catch him.

"We will see who we think will bring most to the performance of the team."