YORK City Knights boss James Ford reckons today's League One clash at the Keepmoat is more important for Doncaster than for his underdog side - saying that's "maybe why their chief exec is trying to pump up their team".

Dons CEO Carl Hall has demanded a reaction from the South Yorkshiremen following their surprise 48-6 Challenge Cup hammering at Hunslet, during which former York enforcer Joe Pickets was sent off.

And in doing so he urged his pack to be ready for a challenge, claiming Ford openly states his Knights forwards are "the hardest in the league".

"I've seen the video and read Carl's comments. I was surprised by them," Ford told The Press, laughing off any suggestion he had bragged about how hard his players were.

"I can assure Carl our reviews and previews are a bit more technical than that, but then he knows as well as I do that things like that haven't been said.

"In fact, I've not spoken about how hard anyone is since I was in Year 9 at Sherburn High School.

"However, it's good to see he's passionate about rugby league and he's looking for ways to motivate his players and get people interested in the game. Good luck to him.

"I also enjoyed the video. He looked pumped - I'm glad he's not playing.

"I'm a rugby league supporter first and foremost and he's raising the profile of the game in Doncaster and that's good.

"I've no problem with Carl. It's good he's passionate about this game. I want all rugby league clubs to succeed and thrive and obviously that includes Doncaster."

The Dons were previously unbeaten in their opening four games, including two good wins in the league, while the Knights are four from four in all competitions, albeit having played only one league match so far.

Asked how important this game was for the season as a whole, Ford said: "I think it's very important for Doncaster. It's a home game for them. That's maybe why the chief exec is trying to pump up the team.

"They want a response after their Challenge Cup defeat and I'm sure they'll get one.

"For us it's an away game against a team who came down from the league above. They're favourites and we'll go in as underdogs but we'll do our utmost to turn them over and if we win it's a bonus."

Ford has said during York's winning start to term that he has been impressed by their "physicality" and "contact", a feature he had wanted to improve from last year.

"Rugby league is a physical game," he said. "If you can find a coach in rugby league who does not want his team to be physical I would be surprised.

"This game will be no different to any other. People will be carrying the ball in hard and there will be big contacts on both sides. I don't really see what the issue is.

"We're no different to anyone. We want to run hard and tackle hard, be technically good and look to do things on the back of that."

As reported by The Press, Ford will make a couple of changes to the side that beat Keighley in the cup last week.

Loanee centre Conor Bower is omitted and second-row Josh Tonks is ruled out after a head injury that day.

Into a 19-man match-day squad come Brett Turner, who scored in each of the three previous matches, fellow winger Ben Dent, who has finally got the all-clear from docs, loanee Jordan Crowther and fellow back-rower Jack Anderson, who signed forms this week after a trial spell.