JAMES FORD insists his starting 13 for tomorrow's penultimate pre-season friendly at Featherstone is not necessarily his first-choice team.

Head coach Ford has named what on paper looks like a strong side to kick off the game at Post Office Road (3pm), with Ash Robson back at full-back and notable new recruits Ben Cockayne, Jake Butler-Fleming, Graeme Horne and Sam Scott all included.

The game will also likely give the best indication yet of how the ambitious League One outfit currently compare to one of the best part-time teams in the land, with Championship big guns Rovers having competed with the full-time ranks in last season's Middle Eights.

Asked if tomorrow's line-up was the most likely to take on fallen giants Bradford Bulls when the League One campaign starts next month, Ford said: "It comes down to the players. I'm certainly not embarrassed to say at this stage I don't know my strongest 13 or 17.

"They've got this game and the Hunslet game (next week) to put their hands up. We will also have a look at a couple of dual-reg players in the Hunslet game.

"This is an opportunity for the players to impress on me that they're in our best 17 and in our best combinations."

On whether this weekend's run-out would give a clear indication of how well placed Ford's team were for a promotion push this year, the head coach said: "It's another part of our programme, part of our preparations to be ready for the league campaign.

"We're facing a top Championship team who play an exciting brand of rugby league and who also have some grit in them.

"We have to prepare to go to places like Oldham, who are a real tough, gritty team, and this is all part of our development as a team.

"There are areas we need to improve, and I'm looking forward to how we go about it. It will give us a good indication of where we're at."

The Knights beat a York & District ARL XIII 46-12 in their opening friendly over Christmas and impressed in parts when losing 28-6 to Super League newcomers Hull KR a fortnight ago - KR having seen off Featherstone in both the Championship and Middle Eights last term.

Asked if the result mattered this weekend, Ford said: "If we play poorly and don't do the things we've worked on and we get a win, we will be disappointed with the performance.

"Ultimately if you get the little things right for long enough, you get the rewards.

"We're going to focus on our performance and on continuing to improve through pre-season. As long as we do that, the scoreboard will look after itself."

Ford, meanwhile, praised Robson for his recent input in training, having previous copped some flak.

The full-back, one of the stars of last season, was left out of the Hull KR game ostensibly because of an ankle problem, but with Ford intimating the 22-year-old had yet to reach pre-season fitness targets.

Ford said: "He's over his ankle injury. He's looked sharp and he's well on the way to hitting the targets we've set him.

"I've been impressed with his response. Ash has copped a bit from us but he's shown a lot of maturity. He's working hard in the areas we've asked him to work on. I'm pretty proud of his response, to be honest.

"I'm excited about seeing Ash at his very best very soon."

Butler-Fleming, meanwhile, had a run-out on dual-reg for former club Hull KR last week, scoring a superb solo try against Hull FC.

Ford said he was excited to see the Aussie in a York shirt, especially lining up against Rovers' Samoan star, Misi Taulapapa.

"Jake's looked a class act in training," he said. "He's big, strong and physical out on the edge and has good footwork and skill.

"He could be a fantastic signing for us.

"It will be a real tough test for him against Misi Taulapapa, who is a top, top Championship centre and it will be interesting to see how they go against each other.

"I played against Misi a few years ago and thought he was a really good player, tough and skilful. I'm excited to watch that particular battle."

Knights (probable): Robson, Cockayne, Butler-Fleming, Hey, Mazive, Delaney, C Robinson, A Robinson, Ellis, Horne, Scott, Batchelor, Spears. Subs: Chilton (trialist), Saxton (trialist), Jackson, Carter, Normington, Ronan Dixon, Siddons, Porter, Rory Dixon, Hawkesworth (trialist), Douglas (trialist).