YORK City Knights are looking to bolster the playing ranks further in readiness for the Super 8s – with Sheffield stalwart Mitch Stringer one notable name being linked with a move to the League One promotion hopefuls.

The Knights this week brought teenagers Harry Tyson-Wilson and Jordan Crowther in on loan from Hull and Wakefield respectively – with the latter, who impressed at York earlier this term, going straight back into the 19-man squad for tomorrow's visit of old foes Hunslet Hawks.

But The Press understands they are also looking to bring in permanent recruits with Championship nous, not least for the pack.

Prop Stringer, who was recently stripped of the captaincy by Sheffield and has not played for a month, appears to be available for transfer but could well be priced out of the market, with the Eagles thought to be demanding a hefty sum for the 32-year-old.

But other Championship players are on the Knights' radar and head coach James Ford, while refusing to confirm names, intimated recruitment was ongoing.

"There's a lot of competition for places and there are hopefully some more players coming in over the next week or so," he said.

Ford, meanwhile, is delaying thoughts of resting and rotating players after their hectic schedule and instead tomorrow will field a similar side to the one that comprehensively toppled leaders Rochdale last week.

In two likely changes, winger Adam Dent is set to replace Tommy Saxton, whose loan stint has ended prematurely after he strained a hamstring last week, while back-rower Crowther could come in for Matty Dale, whose progress on his return from long-term injury is still stop-start.

Fit-again Richard Wilkinson is also added to the provisional squad.

Ford has put Brett Turner's continued absence down to Dent deserving another run after impressing against Coventry last midweek, plus brother Ben Dent's excellent show against Rochdale.

Harry Carter is back in training but Ford keeps Pat Smith and Kriss Brining as his two hookers, wary of making "too many changes after a really impressive performance" last week.

Asked whether he had contemplated more rotation, given the physical and emotional efforts of the previous week, he explained: "The backroom staff have worked hard this week to get the players right.

"The training has been adjusted to allow players to recover and we're confident we'll come into the game fresh.

"We're playing a very good team who want to beat us and who want to kickstart their season by beating one of the form teams. We're aware of that and we'll be focused.

"There's no room for players to take their foot off the gas – and if they do, they will lose a place.

"In terms of people being rested or rotated, we'll go off the data from the backroom team, which has been pretty reliable so far."

On Crowther's likely return, Ford added: "He's got a lot of bang in his contact and he's a clever, skilful player as well.

"I'm really pleased he's back, as are the boys. I'd have no qualms (about throwing him straight back in) as he's a fantastic young professional and a positive influence – the kind of player the club needs to continue moving in the right direction."

Hunslet, who had to endure cost-cutting over the winter following relegation – moves which included Matt Bramald replacing Barry Eaton as boss – are scrapping to get in the Super 8s after five wins and five defeats.

They have so far lost to every team in the top six – including 24-4 to York in the iPro Sport Cup at the start of term – but some of those were narrow defeats and they have won three of their last four matches, beating London Skolars last week to go eighth.

Ford said: "They've had some disappointing results but they've got good players and they're very capable of producing an outstanding performance.

"If they beat us away from home, they know they can take momentum into their remaining games and they can be a danger in the Super 8s."

Ex-Knights in the Hawks squad tomorrow include winger Lee Mapals, half-back Simon Brown, hooker Jack Lee and prop Austin Bell.

Hooker George Flanagan completes his two-game ban, with Craig Robinson replacing Mathew Tebb as interchange dummy-half, the latter having been released. Winger Mo Agoro has gone to Gloucestershire All Golds on loan.

Knights: from B Dent, Wilkinson, A Dent, E Smith, Morland, Buchanan, Presley, Nicklas, Waller, P Smith, Aldous, Divorty, Tonks, Emmett, Brining, Spiers, Crowther, Applegarth, Dale.

Hunslet: from Watson, Duckworth, Mapals, Faal, Mvududu, Normington, Barnett, Brown, Ansell, Thomas, Lee, Haley, Bell, Carbutt, Milburn, Reed, Robinson, Williams, Mackay.