JAMES FORD says his starting 13 for York City Knights' long-overdue first - and so far only - proper friendly of 2016 does not necessarily provide clues into his thinking for the big kick-off next month.

Head coach Ford says the line-up when his side take on Castleford at Bootham Crescent tonight (7.30pm) may have been more of a pointer had his team played their first two pre-season fixtures and had his players already had minutes on the pitch.

But the fact those games, against Hull and Featherstone, were postponed means he still needs to somehow give all his squad - barring those on the treatment table - a fair crack at claiming a shirt come the iPro Sports Cup clash with Hunslet on February 21.

That means decisions will only be made after further training, the opposed session against York Acorn ARLC next week, and, potentially, another friendly yet to be arranged.

"I was hoping to have seen everyone play twice by now and then could have gone with what I envisaged to be my starting team," explained Ford.

"It (the team tonight) could possibly be the starting team (when the season kicks off) but there are some players missing with injury and it's an opportunity for everyone who's playing to lay claim to a start against Hunslet.

"I'm hoping to be impressed by all the blokes, not just tonight but throughout the remaining weeks of pre-season."

Ford has named virtually the same squad that would have taken on Featherstone, tweaked due to new minor injuries.

One has left Danny Nicklas doubtful due to a slight hamstring complaint, meaning that, with Pat Smith still away, new boy Richard Wilkinson and old head Jonny Presley were to get first dibs at building the crucial half-back combination.