CHIEF executive Carl Hall has issued a challenge to Doncaster's forward pack in their clash with York City Knights tomorrow - claiming York boss James Ford "openly tells his team they are the hardest in the league".

Hall has also called on the Dons players to get the result "for their coach" Gary Thornton, Ford's predecessor in the Knights hotseat.

Thornton's contract at York was not renewed at the end of 2014 after his team topped the League One table but failed to win promotion through the play-offs, with his then number two Ford getting the job.

He took over at the struggling Dons midway through last season but was unable to prevent them tumbling down from the Championship.

Thornton himself has played down suggestions tomorrow's Keepmoat Stadium clash (3pm) is a grudge match, but New Zealander Hall - who played for York Wasps the year they went bust in 2002, at the end of a career that included spells at Hull KR, Bradford, Leeds and Doncaster - has fanned the flames.

In an interview on the Dons' club website, Hall was asked about their "disappointing" Challenge Cup defeat to Hunslet, which followed four straight wins.

He said: "It was totally unacceptable... That wasn't us.

"When you play this game you have a chance to put it right. Now, to be fair, Hunslet bashed us up badly. We came out of it with a few injuries, and we've got a massive game this week against York, who went to Hunslet and bullied them.

"And, you know, the York coach, James Ford, he thinks and he openly tells his team they are the hardest team, the hardest pack in the league.

"So, if they've done that to Hunslet and Hunslet have done that to us, our boys better be ready, because they'll be coming here and wanting to beat us at home.

"If we're not ready, we've seen what happened at Hunslet. But I'm sure the boys will react and we'll get a reaction. We certainly want a reaction from them and they've trained well.

"Did we go to Hunslet thinking it was going to be easy because of the performance against Barrow? Maybe.

"But like I say, they've got a challenge on this week because, you know, they (York) are meant to be one of the hardest packs in the league, according to their coach.

"So we shall see."

Hall also spoke about the four ex-Dons now at York - forwards Brett Waller, Russ Spiers and Mike Emmett and full-back Richard Wilkinson.

"Let me tell you, the Donny players playing at York are all playing well, they're all in good form," he said.

"We certainly know what they can all do. A lot of them are confidence players and last year with us losing each week it was tough on them all.

"But credit to them. They've gone to York and they've strengthened York massively, and they've probably been the standout players for them. Good look to them, well done to them.

"But we need to have a look at ourselves. Everyone who gets picked this week, they'd better go out and put a performance in because, like I said, we're looking for a reaction.

"The boys down here are fantastic lads, no shying away from that, they're good lads.

"I think they're tough enough to stand up and come back this week and do it, do it for our coach.

"I'm not going to sit here and lie. I want the boys to do it for the coach this week - no one else, for the coach.

"He came from York, he got sacked from York when he won the league, so if they want to pluck anything for it and want any motivation out of it I'd pledge for them to do it for the coach this week."