YORK City Knights are on the verge of snaffling a half-back from the Kingstone Press Championship, The Press understands.

Head coach James Ford has refused to confirm details but it is believed terms have virtually been agreed and the player - thought to be a first-teamer at a top-half outfit - could be unveiled early next week, assuming his release from his current club goes through without a hitch.

The signing would follow hot on the heels of that of 6ft 6in Rochdale prop Samir Tahraoui, who will make his debut in Sunday's League One clash with London Skolars at Bootham Crescent (3pm), as the Knights seek a fifth straight league win having enjoyed a 100 per cent record through May.

Ford has wanted another half-back on the books since the departure of Danny Sowerby, who struggled to fulfil his promise on his arrival from Bradford's academy and was released in April.

Liam Harris has been a revelation at stand-off since landing on dual-registration from Hull KR but there is a chance the Robins will recall him at some point, while scrum-half Harry Tyson-Wilson will be sidelined for several more weeks due to the knee ligament damage suffered against Gloucestershire All Golds last month.

A new arrival would also allow veteran Jonny Presley to focus again on his coaching duties - and also his upcoming wedding.

Presley had been persuaded not to hang up his boots over the winter and has played in half of York's 12 games this term, initially when replacing Sowerby and more recently following the injury to Tyson-Wilson. He will continue to partner Harris in the halves tomorrow.

Tahraoui, the Algeria-born former Bradford Bulls front-rower, will make his debut this weekend as one of probably four changes to the side that won at Newcastle last time out.

Dee Foggin-Johnston and Nev Morrison will return to the outside backs in place of Nick Rawsthorne, who is back at parent club Hull, and Callum Lancaster, whose trial has ended.

Fit-again Ronan Dixon is also set to return to the pack, with Liam Thompson, who has been sent on loan to Coventry, and dual-reg Kieran Moran making way.

Pat Smith and Bobby Tyson-Wilson are also in the 19-man squad.

On Tahraoui, Ford said: “He’s a player I rate highly and he’s my kind of person off the field – he’s really well-mannered and respectful, and the kind of person you can build a club around.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the extra punch he will bring to the team which will in turn benefit the other middles.

“He can be a real positive signing for us.”

The inconsistent Skolars currently sit 11th after three wins in their eight games, but they are only three points behind sixth-placed Knights and have put 42 points past Coventry and 60 past Hemel, and notched a 28-28 draw at Doncaster less than a month ago.

Player-boss Jermaine Coleman, a one-time Knights half-back, has also proved himself a bright young coach over the past 18 months, lifting them from the doldrums in mid-2015 into the Super 8s last year.

Nevertheless, Ford said of the Knights' winning run: "We keep saying we've turned a corner in terms of performances, and we are growing as a group and our relationships are improving.

"But I am absolutely adamant the improvement is based around our attitude, hard work and the little things in rugby, and, as long as we remain focused on those unfashionable things, those unselfish things, and put our all into those things, I'm sure we will keep improving.

"London Skolars are a big team with good half-backs who will test us with their craft.

"If we turn up with the right focus, right attitude and right level of intensity, I'm confident we can make it five from five.

Knights (possible): Robson, Foggin-Johnston, Morrison, Haynes, Saxton, Harris, Presley, Tahraoui, Ellis, Robinson, E Smith, Batchelor, Spears. Subs: from Carter, Hey, Dixon, Siddons,

P Smith, B Tyson-Wilson.

Skolars: from Adebiyi, Allison, M Bishay, Bustin, Brown, Chester, Jy-Mel Coleman, Driver, Faturoti-Edwards, M Greenhalgh, Hill, Juma, Lawrence, Lyon, Mbaraga, Melling, Nash, Sykes, Williams.