NONE of Hunslet's three off-season recruits from York City Knights will make quick returns to Bootham Crescent tomorrow.

Hunslet boss Gary Thornton has confirmed winger Dee Foggin-Johnston, York's joint top scorer in 2017, forward Ryan Mallinder and half-back Harry Tyson-Wilson will NOT be involved in this weekend's pre-season friendly between the League One rivals.

Thornton is instead set to field a number of fringe players, with a stronger squad likely to play against amateurs Hunslet Club Parkside seven days later as the South Leeds Stadium club look to right some wrongs of their embarrassing defeat to the National Conference outfit 12 months ago.

Tomorrow's game is the Knights' last of four pre-season fixtures yet Hunslet's first of three, prior to the season's start on February 18.

"We will be reasonably strong (tomorrow) but we've got a few niggling injuries and none of the ex-York lads will feature," said Thornton.

"We'll give some fringe players an opportunity. We need to give everyone a fair crack before the season starts."

Thornton intimated the Parkside game is his club's priority this pre-season but the timing of the respective matches has also played a part in his team selections.

"We have three (pre-season) games - York, Hunslet Club Parkside, then Leeds Rhinos," he said. "There's a bit of pressure on us for the Parkside one after the result last year.

"But it's also about approaching the start of the season. In the Parkside and Leeds games we want to be looking more at our strongest 17, so it's not because of who we're playing but about finding out our strongest line-up for Hemel on the opening day."

Knights head coach James Ford, when asked if he would have preferred to face Hunslet's strongest side, said: "They have a good squad with a lot of good players. Whatever permutations they put out, we will face a tough, physical test. They'll be coming after us as well after we beat them so convincingly last year."