BOSS James Ford has called for strong refereeing from the man in the middle as his injury-hit York City Knights side face a crunch clash with old friends and foes at Keighley.

The Cougars pack for Sunday's League One four-pointer in the race for the Super 8s will feature former Knights favourites Mike Emmett, Josh Tonks and Brad Nicholson.

And while Ford reckons the head-to-head between Tonks and old back-row partner Ed Smith could be particularly mouthwatering, he reckons how ref Tom Crashley handles matters could likewise be influential in the outcome - with Emmett having a tendency to get into not only the faces of opponents but also the minds of officials.

"Mike has a strong passing game for a middle and, let's be fair, he's a persistent annoyance," smiled Ford, who has long been an admirer of his former hooker/loose-forward.

"He can have an impact on how the game is officiated and the penalty count so it will need the referee to be strong."

Prop Nicholson left York early last season while Tonks, like Emmett, was part of the autumn exodus when the club's off-field controversy left them in danger of going under.

"All three are really highly thought of at York and by York supporters, but we're looking forward to taking them on," said Ford.

"We know what they bring and we're looking forward to challenging them."

On the Smith v Tonks battle, he said: "I think it will be eye-catching for sure. There will be some impact. They're two full-bloodied players - I've never seen either of them take a backward step.

"Keighley's left side as a whole is generally pretty strong and our right side will go a long way to us winning the game by getting on top of them."

Ford's 19-man squad shows at least three notable changes to the team that lost narrowly to Whitehaven last week - though there could well be more.

Dual-reg half-back Liam Harris has been called up by parent club Hull KR, Harry Carter is sidelined after a hernia op, and fellow hooker Andy Ellis, having failed late fitness tests in the last two weeks, is left out entirely as he recovers from his calf strain.

Furthermore, in-form full-back Ash Robson and key middle-man Tim Spears are rated "very doubtful" with injuries picked up last week. James Haynes is set to switch to full-back with big Bobby Tyson-Wilson going into the pack.

However, centre Tuoyo Egodo is likely to make his debut on loan from Castleford Tigers, hooker Will Jubb returns on dual-reg having played for Hull KR last week, and Harry Tyson-Wilson makes a similarly timely return after seven weeks out with knee ligament damage.

For Keighley, prop Scott Law faces a month on the sidelines due to a groin injury suffered in last week's 45-26 victory over London Skolars. His place is taken by Ben Sagar.

Their squad is otherwise unchanged.

Full-back Ritchie Hawkyard is back in training - he needed surgery on facial injuries caused in a clash of heads against Hunslet at Easter - but both he and Vinny Finigan (ankle) are a couple of weeks away from returns to action.

Keighley (from): Aaronson, Gabriel, D Dixon, Beharrell, Feather, Lynam, Rawlins, Emmett, Brook, Cherryholme, Milner, Conroy, Tonks, Bailey, Whittel, Sagar, Nicholson, Ryder, Barnes.

Knights (possible): Haynes, Foggin-Johnston, Morrison, Egodo, Saxton, H Tyson-Wilson, C Robinson, A Robinson, Jubb, Moran, E Smith, Batchelor, Siddons. Subs: P Smith, K Dixon, B Tyson-Wilson, Hey. Fitness tests: Spears, Robson.