YORK City Knights are considering trying to arrange a behind-closed-doors friendly against neighbours York Acorn ARLC after seeing their second pre-season fixture wiped out by rain.

The Knights' match at Featherstone Rovers on Thursday went the same way as their big opening friendly against Hull at Bootham Crescent, being cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.

With the difficulty now of organising a new fixture ahead of their League One campaign next month, but with head coach James Ford keen to give his players another outing in addition to their one remaining friendly, a trial run against Acorn – effectively an opposed, competitive training session – is seen as one possible solution.

"Last year we played Wakefield in such a game and it was really useful," said Ford.

"I would not be opposed to doing something like that again, be it against a Super League club, a Championship club or even against a leading amateur club in the area, if it would prove worthwhile for both parties."

Asked if that specifically meant Acorn – the best amateur outfit in the region, boosted by their promotion back up to the flagship National Conference League premier division – Ford said: "We would get something from that.

"Acorn are a very well-coached team and have progressed really well. They have some good young players who have been close to being first-team players at the Knights; the likes of Jordan Potter, Elliot Bulmer and Tim Stubbs.

"There is talent down there and Scott Rhodes (Acorn coach) is doing a really good job leading them."

Acorn are into their own pre-season, with their campaign set to start on March 12 – three weeks after that of the Knights, whose first competitive match is an iPro Sport Cup tie against Hunslet on February 21.

The Knights' one remaining confirmed friendly is against Castleford Tigers at Bootham Crescent next Friday.

Ford said: "Our preparation has been good and I'm really happy with what the boys are bringing and the level of their execution.

"But I'd like to put them in another match situation or a competitive opposed training match with more contact to deal with and see how they respond."

Arranging a new friendly will prove difficult, given most clubs' pre-season programmes have long been established and that Super League and Championship campaigns kick off a few weeks before York begin in League One.

An additional complication for the Knights is they now share Bootham Crescent with York City and would have to squeeze in a new date.

There would also be financial implications of staging an encounter which might not bring in a big enough crowd to make it cost-effective.

The Knights held an in-house Probables v Possibles fixture 12 months ago at Clifton Park but since then have lost their reserves team and do not have enough players on the books to make this an option.

The Press understands promoted Oldham have asked about arranging a game but they have similar ground issues – they will play at Stalybridge Celtic FC this year after their ramshackle Whitebank base was deemed unfit for Championship rugby – so securing a cost-effective venue is tricky.

Ford said of the situation: "I've spoken to John Guildford (major shareholder) about looking at the possibility of arranging another trial game or maybe holding some kind of competitive opposed training session against someone else, like we did against Wakefield.

"If the board can find anything that fits in with the schedule York City have provided, or fits in with another club hosting a game, then great. If we play a behind-closed-doors game instead, we'll try to get out of it what we need.

"I'd like an opportunity to look at some players in a match situation. As long as we get an opportunity to practice our defensive systems and to build fluidity with the ball, I'd be happy."

On Thursday's call-off, Ford added: "The game was about us being on the field and building fluidity and relationships. Obviously I was disappointed.

"The players were looking forward to playing and I was looking forward to watching them play – but we're keen not to let it affect our preparations."

The early call-off at least gave Ford the chance to put his charges through another tough training session.

"I'm a big believer in getting your practice right and I'm not going to complain about getting more time to do that," he said.

"But I also believe you need the opportunity to measure the effectiveness of that training and it would be good to have another friendly, or some kind of fixture, to see where we're at."

Guildford said: "We're considering our options. Most clubs have got their fixtures set up and to set one up at this late stage is not easy.

"We have the Castleford game next week, which will be a good test. If we do need another outing, we will look at what options we have to get a game on."