YORK City Knights have finally confirmed their pre-season fixture list - and have insisted the home games will be at Bootham Crescent as planned.

It has long been known the Knights were to host Hull and Castleford in friendlies next month, with the two Super League clubs having already released the fixture dates of Sunday, January 3 (3pm) and Friday, January 22 (7.30pm), respectively.

The Knights' office have now confirmed the games, too, while also affirming they are to visit Featherstone Rovers in between times, on Thursday, January 14 (7.30pm).

It is hoped Hull will bring a strong side, making the Knights' Bootham Crescent bow a prestigious affair, but it is unlikely Cas will do likewise as they are scheduled to meet derby rivals Wakefield two days later when they would be expected to field the bulk of their first-choice squad.

As for playing the games at York City's ground - amid rumours the move to Bootham Crescent was in doubt again - a club spokeswoman said: "All fixtures the club have released are to be played at Bootham Crescent and the dates were agreed with York City Football Club before the fixtures were released."

City also said the fixture dates had been agreed.

The Knights should have played at City's ground all last season as part of the community stadium scheme - which is to see the old rugby ground rebuilt to house both clubs - but they ended up being homeless after project leaders City of York Council sidelined Knights major shareholder John Guildford from talks, leaving the club having to play games out of the city or at amateur venues belonging to York RUFC and Heworth ARLC. New directors took over stadium negotiations from Guildford and got the club back in the project.

The Knights' season starts with an iPro Cup clash at arch-rivals Hunslet on Sunday, February 21.