SECOND-ROW stars Ed Smith and big Joe Batchelor are among those back in contention for York City Knights as boss James Ford considers making up to seven changes for the trek to dark horses Gloucestershire All Golds on Sunday.

Ford was leaving it late to confirm his 17 for the return to League One action but there will be at least five alterations to the side that pushed big-spending Barrow close in the Challenge Cup last time out before falling to defeat amid controversial refereeing.

Captain Smith and Batchelor - both of whom were in form before injury - will almost certainly feature after passing fit, but it is unclear who will start, with fellow back-rowers Brad Hey and Joe Porter also expected to play.

There will be changes in the back line, too, with new signing Callum Lancaster now in the mix alongside Hull FC flier Nick Rawsthorne, whose loan was extended this week.

Ford intimated he would use three second-rowers in his 17 - something he could not do against Barrow due to injuries - and return Porter to the middle unit.

"If we have a back-row on the bench it can give you more of a balanced 17," he said.

"You can bring on someone who's fresh and, if you lose an outside-back, you can be more comfortable pushing a back-row into the centres.

"We've seen what all three of them (Smith, Batchelor and Hey) are capable of doing when they get the opportunity."

On former York Acorn amateur Porter, who was used in the second row against Barrow in Smith and Batchelor's absence, Ford added: "Joe had a job to do against Barrow and he did it really well.

"Wherever you play him, he will bring energy and tenacity. He's improving and working hard in training on some technical stuff. We're really pleased with what he's doing.

"With that level of energy and desire and fight, he will always have a chance of being in the 17, whether in the back row or in the middle."

Star full-back Ash Robson is fit to return to the number one slot after his quad strain as the Knights look to climb the table into the top eight, leapfrogging their hosts in the process.

Half-back Jonny Presley is also available again, leaving Ford with a dilemma in the halves, Liam Harris having done well at stand-off alongside Harry Tyson-Wilson against Barrow.

"I was really happy with what Liam Harris produced last time out," said Ford.

"I like a lot of the things he does. He's got a really good future as long as he keeps his head and keeps working hard."

Ford's other decision before Sunday concerns his threequarters with Rawsthorne and former Hull wonderkid Callum Lancaster, who signed at York this week, competing for places with Dee Foggin-Johnston, Tommy Saxton and Nev Morrison.

In another change, dual-reg Will Jubb, whose last appearance was in the shock defeat at Oxford a month ago, comes in at hooker, with Harry Carter out injured.

Added Ford: "Will was one of our better performers in his last appearance. His service is outstanding and he's a good kid to boot."

Along with Carter, full-back Ben Dent (elbow), centre James Haynes and dual-reg pack duo Kieran Moran and Brad Clavering are the ones omitted from the 17 that took on Barrow.

Knights: from Robson, Foggin-Johnston, Saxton, Lancaster, Rawsthorne, Morrison, H Tyson-Wilson, Harris, Presley, Siddons, Dixon, Spears, Porter, B Tyson-Wilson, Ellis, Jubb, Batchelor, Smith, Hey.