YORK City Knights boss James Ford remains unconcerned by his team's four-game losing streak - saying there are enough signs to show they will be right in the promotion mix come the play-offs.

The current run is the worst since the Knights returned to League One in 2014 and Ford has rung the changes for tomorrow's trip to second-placed Rochdale in response to last week's 20-6 home loss to Barrow. Among those coming in are Micky Learmonth for the first time this season, James Haynes for the second and, in an about turn, teenager Brandon Westerman for his debut.

Nevertheless the head coach is confident his team can rediscover their rhythm - and the omens are good they will do so tomorrow (3pm), having hammered the high-flying Hornets twice already this year, including handing them their only home defeat to League One opposition all term in the 40-6 cup win in April.

"I probably didn't give Barrow as much credit as they deserved," said Ford of last week, the Raiders having scored three tries in the last eight minutes to take the points.

"They made only two errors coming out of yardage and that's extraordinary, especially considering one came in the very first set. The discipline they showed sticking to their kicking game - it was a tremendous performance.

"We've not played consistently over the last month and for it to be 6-6 after 72 minutes against a team playing as well as that shows how good and resilient we are.

"We were some distance off with our passing and did some soft things defensively but our desire kept us in the game.

"As we get back into things and tidy up one or two combinations, I'm confident we can finish the season successfully."

The Knights have been majorly disrupted by off-field issues, having been told last month the club would be wound up, before assurances came they would see out the season amid takeover talks.

Added Ford: "As we get our rhythm again, which has been disturbed through no fault of our own, we'll be better.

"You don't want to lose any games but it (the losing run) isn't a concern. Two have been away to Toulouse, once with 15 men, and one against Barrow, the form team in the competition, on the back of some incredible circumstances.

"In all those performances we've shown positive signs. Even in the performance at Keighley, we were the better team.

"What we need to do is turn those positive patches into league points.

"It's about getting it right enough to be in the top five and then when it matters in the play-offs."

Rochdale boss Alan Kilshaw claims York will be favourites after previous match-ups, but Ford said: "I think Alan's trying to play a bit of mind-games there.

"The table doesn't lie. They're above us and they've not been through what we've been through.

"But we'll go there confident, expecting a tough game against a good team and clever coach.

"Whether we're underdogs doesn't interest me. We'll focus on our performance."

Ford will be without prop Mark Applegarth (knee) and hooker Harry Carter through injury. Also dropped are centre James Morland and full-back Richard Wilkinson.

But in come Learmonth, fit again after his horror pectoral injury in pre-season, fellow prop Brett Waller, winger Austin Buchanan, centre Tyler Craig, half-back Danny Nicklas and club captain Haynes, who returns at full-back after making his annual bow in Toulouse following his knee reconstruction.

Another notable inclusion is Castleford loanee Westerman at centre, a fortnight after Ford said he wouldn't play for the club again following his no-show for the France trip. An illness in the family saw him stay home but he hadn't contacted Ford.

The head coach explained: "I spoke to Brandon and Cas. At the time I was really disappointed but Brandon was under the impression I was aware.

"I told him he needs to deal with these situations himself, it's part of growing up. He's apologised to the group and explained it was a misunderstanding.

"Kids make mistakes. You've got to help them mature in such a way they make fewer mistakes and become better people.

"I don't want to be a coach that ruins a 19-year-old's career. He's a good player and a tough kid. I can eat a bit of humble pie. He's trained well and deserves his chance and I'm chuffed for him and hope he rewards the team with a good performance."

On Learmonth, Ford said: "I'm looking forward to bringing him in. He's another player who's very tough and aggressive. We're a pretty tenacious team anyway and Micky will give us even more tenacity around the ruck."

Kilshaw, whose team beat 12-man Keighley 18-4 in a dour contest last week, said: “We’re not going to read too much into York’s recent results.

"They'll be favourites. They're the only team in our league to beat us at Spotland. They've won both games between us pretty comfortably and will have no fear coming here."

Of York's off-field issues, he added: "It's been a bit of a circus but they're a quality team with a quality coach and it's in the past now. They had the trip to Toulouse with 15 players and a tough game the week after but they'll have pinpointed this weekend to get back on track.

"Their game against Barrow was a real grind, a hard watch, with lots of kicks to the corner, kicks to scrums.

"There's been a shift in mentality in the Super 8s. I'd like to think we'll still play attractive rugby alongside that."

Hall of Famer Paul Crook and top-scorer Jono Smith are set to return from injury, with Alex Trumper and James Dandy also back in the 19.

Hooker Ryan Maneely (knee) is out and Corey Lee also makes way. Half-back Steve Roper debuted last week after rejoining from Oldham.

Rochdale: from English, Holmes, Case, Ratu, Bloomfield, Crook, Yates, Taira, Moore, Thompson, Dandy, Crowley, Roper, Tahraoui, Hadden, Cartwright, J Smith, Trumper, Tilley.

Knights: Haynes, Buchanan, Westerman, Craig, Saxton, Presley, Nicklas, Spiers, P Smith, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Emmett, Brining, Learmonth, Waller, A Smith, B Dent, Hey.