YORK City Knights boss James Ford wants his players to show they are "desperate to represent this city" - saying plenty of shirts are still up for grabs ahead of Monday night's final friendly.

The Knights face a Hull FC XIII at Bootham Crescent (7.30pm) six days before kicking off their 2017 season at home to North Wales Crusaders in the League One Cup first round.

Ford will almost certainly have a good idea about the bulk of his line-up for that cup opener, but he says there are "a lot" of decisions still to be made, and he is set to cast his eye over no fewer than 24 players on Monday to help him make up his mind.

"There are a lot of places up for grabs for the North Wales game," Ford told The Press.

"You could hedge your bets that the likes of Ed Smith and Tim Spears will likely be in the squad (against the Crusaders) but the message to all the boys is 'show me what you've got'.

"They need to show they're desperate to play for this club and to take this club forward."

Captain Smith is set for another run-out on Monday, but Spears, the former Featherstone skipper, is to sit this one out, suggesting his place next Sunday is already guaranteed.

Asked if he had already made selections for next week, Ford said: "There are a few positions where I think people have played well and trained well and impressed with the mental side of things, but I want to keep people on their toes so I will be keeping those names to myself at the minute.

"It's important all the boys show me they're desperate to play for this city."

Harry Carter is also omitted on Monday due to a tight hamstring, while Tommy Saxton likewise won't be risked early as he makes his way back from his groin injury. Joe Batchelor is also sidelined, set to miss the start of the season due to the side strain suffered in the opening run-out at Featherstone.

However, fans will get a first look at new boy Liam Thompson, the Leeds-born former England Universities second-row signed alongside Batchelor from Coventry Bears. He sat out the first two friendlies due to rehab from last year's injury.

The two new loanees from Hull KR, hooker Will Jubb and prop Kieran Moran, will also make their York bows, while veteran half-back Jonny Presley, now also on the coaching staff, will take to the field for the first time this year.

Trialists Joe Porter, Josh Kittrick and Matty Downes will feature, too, as they look to impress enough to win contracts in what could be their last chance.

Hull, who kicked off their Super League campaign this weekend, will bring predominantly a reserve squad.

Said Ford of the test they will provide: "It's a Hull FC side and, whatever team they put out, it will be well-coached and a side deemed good enough to represent a massive club. It's a good opportunity for us to see where we're at."

Asked if plenty of interchanges could make it harder to assess his players, Ford said:

"The game is a final part of our preparations. I've been pleased with what I've seen so far. The boys have worked hard and I've seen good skill levels and good mental skills as well.

"It's about people showing what they can do and finding the best combinations and, whether they play 40, 60 or 80 minutes, it's an important part of our pre-season as we carry on building momentum.

"There were big improvements between the Featherstone and London Broncos games and, while we've got some distance to go, certainly defensively, we've put work into that in training and I'm sure we'll see evidence of that."

Knights: from Robson, Haynes, Foggin-Johnston, B Dent, A Dent, Morrison, Brierley, Swift, Downes, Sowerby, H Tyson-Wilson, Presley, Kittrick, P Smith, Jubb, B Tyson-Wilson, Siddons, Dixon, Moran, Robinson, Ed Smith, Thompson, Brad Hey, Porter.