YORK City Knights boss James Ford has questioned Hunslet's recent decision to sack head coach James Coyle as his team prepare to lock horns with their League One arch-rivals.

Tomorrow's match sees Ford go head to head with his predecessor at York for a second time this year - Gary Thornton having been installed as Coyle's replacement at the John Charles Stadium last month, just weeks after departing Doncaster "by mutual consent".

But the Knights chief reckons Coyle was unlucky not to still be in the job and guiding the south Leeds outfit into this eagerly awaited clash against their old foes (3pm).

"There is some expectation around Hunslet - they were in the Championship not so long ago and they've got some quality players," said Ford, whose buoyant side rose above them in the table last week after a fifth straight league win.

"I felt for James. They were playing with clever shape and they did some smart things. He was also trying to change the culture there.

"They lost a few games late on, so in another universe they could be lying second or third and looking at a fantastic season and James Coyle would still be there."

He added: "But we've got to focus on ourselves. We need to get our start right and get our attitude right. If we do that, I believe we can make it six wins on the trot."

Coyle was sacked after Hunslet's surprise 24-22 defeat at Oxford on May 14 - a fourth defeat in eight league games. They beat Workington in their next match under caretaker coach Rob Roberts, while Thornton's first game in charge saw a battling 28-20 defeat to high-riding Barrow last week.

Ford's team have also suffered a shock loss at Oxford this term, but have been unbeaten in the league since, with Sunday's comeback victory over London Skolars lifting them up to fifth in the table, two points above Hunslet with a game in hand over them too.

Ford, previously Thornton's number two at York, also currently has the edge over his former gaffer in previous meetings - the 16-8 victory over Doncaster at Bootham Crescent in March making it 2-1 in the mini-series so far.

The Knights also won at the Keepmoat Stadium a year earlier, with the Dons getting revenge in the Super 8s later last season, albeit when Ford's team were distracted by the off-field crisis engulfing the club.

Thornton - named the 2014 Championship One Coach of the Year in his time at York after his side topped the table, only to fail in the play-offs - exited Doncaster on May 9 after a little less than two years in the job. His team had slipped to seventh, after three opening wins were followed by defeats to Toronto - an 82-6 hammering - and York and then a draw with London Skolars.

Ford said: "Things didn't work out for him at Doncaster but he's a top bloke who's well thought of by the fans at York and I hope he can turn it round."

As for the Knights, five of their six league wins have come against teams currently in the bottom half, with Thornton's Doncaster the exception.

Asked if victory tomorrow against another side with play-off aspirations would set a better marker, Ford said: "I thought we set a marker when we beat Rochdale from the league above (in the Challenge Cup).

"Beating teams below us - you can only beat who's in front of you."

Asked of Hunslet's play-off chances, Ford said: "I see them as a team that on their day can beat quality opposition.

"We'll need to be at our best. We're aware that Hunslet, given the rivalry between the teams, will want to give their best performance against us and will want to beat us, even more so now Gary's there.

"We can't wait for it."