HEAD coach James Ford says he has not considered looking at rivals' fixture lists to work out how many points his York City Knights side will need to guarantee a top-five play-off place.

The Knights, sitting fourth in the League One Super 8s, currently have a two-point advantage over Sunday's visitors, Doncaster, and a four-point advantage over sixth-placed Keighley Cougars, with three games to go.

But, mathematically, York, Doncaster, Keighley, Workington and Newcastle can all yet finish in the top five, below leading trio Toronto, Barrow and Whitehaven, who have banked top-three places already.

There are plenty of potential permutations and it could all yet boil down to points-difference, but, rather than try to work out where points can be won and lost across the league, Ford – while intimating in recent weeks that another "two more wins should be enough" – has stuck by a tried and trusted old cliche.

"We're just taking it a game at a time," he said.

"The next game is Doncaster and that's the focus. We have to win that one. If we do that, it puts us in a really positive position.

"We know it will be tough. Doncaster are a good team. They'll be disappointed with their result against Workington (22-21 defeat) and Horney (head coach Richard Horne) will be really into them. They will come at us at the weekend as their season is on the line."

The Knights fielded a weakened team for last weekend's defeat at Barrow – where York have not won since 2004 – but that was largely enforced due to injury and unavailability, and Ford insisted there were no thoughts of saving players for the upcoming tests, prioritising these fixtures over that one.

He added: "We've beaten Toronto and then lost to Keighley. Keighley drew with Toronto and then lost heavily to Whitehaven. Everyone can beat anyone – we've seen that.

"It's not about trying to figure out who will beat who. It's about getting your energy levels right, getting your enthusiasm right and hitting your standards to take the points."

Assuming full-timers Toronto, the champions elect, seal the sole automatic promotion place as expected, then Barrow and Whitehaven, who will finish either second and third, will have home advantage in the play-off semi-finals against the sides who finish fourth and fifth. The final will be at the home of the highest-placed finalist.

The Knights' remaining fixtures are at home to Doncaster and Newcastle, either side of a tough trip to Whitehaven.

The remaining fixtures for the teams vying with York for fourth and fifth place in the table are below.

Knights (24pts): Doncaster (H), Whitehaven (A), Newcastle (H).

Doncaster (22pts): York (A), Newcastle (H), Toronto (A).

Keighley (20pts): Newcastle (A), Workington (H), Barrow (A).

Workington (19pts): Barrow (A), Keighley (A), Whitehaven (H).

Newcastle (18pts): Keighley (H), Doncaster (A), York (A).