Ford formulates York City Knights plan to upset big-spending Barrow and end 10-year hoodoo

Ford has formulated a plan which he believes can upset the big-spending Cumbrians on their own patch (6.30pm) and has backed his boys to execute it with energy and enthusiasm.

The Knights have not beaten Barrow in 10 meetings stretching back to 2007 and have not won at Craven Park since 2004. Paul Crarey's men are also among the favourites for promotion alongside Toronto.

But Ford said: "We've not spoken about odds or who's favourites. What we've spoken about is executing a plan we think will work, and the players going out with absolute clarity of what their role is in that plan.

"We will go with a lot of energy, enthusiasm and confidence in one another.

"If we execute that plan with energy and enthusiasm, we'll give ourselves a fantastic opportunity of picking up the win."

Ford also said York's apparent Barrow hoodoo was irrelevant.

"We just need to maintain our mindset," he said. "The focus is on us and the plan, and in playing with energy and tempo.

"If we do that, we give ourselves a wonderful opportunity of being the first York team to win up there in a number of years."

He added: "Barrow are a fine team with a good coach and with experienced players across the squad. But we're focusing on us and our roles within our plan."

Ex-Coventry back-rower Liam Thompson is set for his debut, in place of Chris Siddons who suffered ankle ligament damage in last week's Challenge Cup win over Egremont - X-rays at least showing he did not break the joint.

Said Ford of Thompson: "He was unfortunate to miss most of pre-season as he recovered from surgery but he's worked really hard.

"He carries the ball well and he's a smart individual - he understands what we're trying to achieve and how we want to play."

The other personnel in the pack - including hookers Harry Carter and Pat Smith - are unchanged.

It means Hull KR loanees Kieran Moran, the prop, and hooker Will Jubb miss out on recalls, having been unavailable for last week's cup tie.

"We've been tweaking the middles a little bit in their shape and it's fair to give a similar combination another opportunity to take a step forward," said Ford on his engine room.

As for the selections at hooker, he said: "Pat's had a couple of decent games and looked energetic off the bench, taking to that running hooker role pretty well while also giving us a good degree of control with his communication.

"Harry was outstanding against Egremont. We'd spoken about why he did not play the previous week and he responded the perfect way.

"He showed he should be in the team and he will stay in as long as he performs like that."

Meanwhile, Crarey had 22 players to choose from but keeps a similar squad to that which beat Rochdale Mayfield 60-6 in the cup.

Matty While is omitted but centre Andy Litherland and pivot Dan Abram, rested last week, are back in the 19-man squad, with former Royal Marine Tom Loxam also added after a successful trial. He is vying for a place out wide as he eyes an early debut.

Fellow winger Brett Carter was also available again but Crarey has stuck with young Luke Cresswell.

Former Workington prop Tom Walker made his debut last week and stays involved.

Back-rower Liam Harrison, so often a Knights tormentor down the years, retired over the winter but ex-Worky packman Jarrad Stack is a quality replacement, while the likes of veterans Ollie Wilkes and Martin Aspinwall provide Super League experience in the middle.

Hooker Karl Ashall (broken arm), back-rower Matty Holmes (broken arm), Max Wiper (cartilage) and Chris Fleming (foot) are sidelined.

Barrow (possible): Fieldhouse, Toal, Stack, Hulme, Cresswell, Dallimore, Charnock, Bullock, Marwood, Wilkes, Morrow, Crellin, Aspinwall. Subs: from Mossop, Dawson, Walker, Litherland, Abram, Loxam.

Knights (probable): Robson, Foggin-Johnston, Batchelor, Morrison, Brierley, Sowerby, H Tyson-Wilson, Robinson, Carter, Dixon, Hey, E Smith, Spears. Subs: from P Smith, Thompson, Porter, B Tyson-Wilson, Haynes, B Dent.