HEAD coach James Ford says next week's play-off as opposed to Sunday's last match of the Super 8s is the priority for York City Knights - and deciding on his threequarters will be paramount after losing strike centre Jake Butler-Fleming to injury.

The Knights host Newcastle (3pm) already assured of a promotion semi-final, which, barring freak results, will be at Whitehaven.

Ford insists he wants to put on a show for the fans in what could be the last home game of term but has made it clear this match is more about building up to the knockouts, which will include sorting out a new back line after Butler-Fleming's departure.

Said Ford: "We want to produce a good performance and reward the best supporters in the competition. But we've earned the right to prioritise next week.

"We won't get promoted for winning this weekend. We'll set up to play in a way that gives us the best chance of winning next weekend."

Butler-Fleming, who has scored two tries in five outings since arriving on loan from Hull KR, has been told by specialists not to play again before undergoing knee surgery.

Said Ford of the Aussie: "He's disappointed. He's really enjoyed it here and I've enjoyed having him here - he's been a model pro and a great example for the young players.

"He also brought experience and physicality to our edges."

It's the third time York have lost an on-loan strike centre prematurely this term, with Hull's Nick Rawsthorne (five appearances, eight tries) being recalled to his parent club before being sent out on dual-reg to Doncaster, and Castleford's Tuoyo Egodo (two appearances) suffering injury.

With Brad Hey again rested and James Haynes unavailable, Ben Dent will switch from full-back to the threequarters, with the inexperienced Adam Swift getting another chance to impress.

Said Ford: "We have options. Jake's a good player but his departure doesn't change our objectives."

He added: "I thought Adam looked really promising at Whitehaven (last week) in difficult conditions.

"Adam's going to get better every time he plays. That was only his third game at this level and, each time, I've thought he's going to be a good player."

Nev Morrison returned to the club last winter as a centre but has impressed recently on the wing so stays on the flank.

That in turn gives Ford another headache, albeit a good one, with veteran winger Tommy Saxton fit again and pencilled in to play this weekend ahead of Dee Foggin-Johnston, whose place in the play-offs is not guaranteed despite being this year's top try-scorer.

Ford will have other selection dilemmas too.

Playmaker Liam Harris returns on Sunday at full-back, with Harry Tyson-Wilson partnering Connor Robinson in the halves. But Ford will have regular number one Ash Robson available after his ban next week.

Harris and Robson are both up for the League One Young Player of the Year accolade on Monday night, when Ford is also shortlisted for Coach of the Year.

Harry Carter is also back from his hernia operation and will be the replacement hooker, with fellow dummy-half Will Jubb utilised instead as an interchange back-row.

The starting second-rows, with Joe Batchelor again rested, are Liam Thompson again and Jordan Cox, who returns after illness.

Dual-reg prop Kieran Moran, called up by Hull KR this weekend, is replaced by Ryan Mallinder.

Moran will be available next week with fellow prop Adam Robinson also likely to be fit again.

Newcastle boss Jason Payne picks the same 19 as on duty for last week's win over Doncaster which kept alive their hopes of snatching the last play-off place.

Knights (probable): Harris, Saxton, Swift, Dent, Morrison, H Tyson-Wilson, C Robinson, Dixon, Ellis, Siddons, Cox, Thompson, Spears. Subs: from Carter, Jubb, Mallinder, Porter, P Smith, Foggin-Johnston.

Newcastle: from Young, Brown, Olpherts, Craig, Blair, Hardcastle, Teroi, J Aldous, Simons, Barron, Clarke, H Aldous, McAvoy, Bustin, Luckley, Parker, Rennie, Shaw, Snitch.