YORK City Knights' pack will be bolstered by more Super League power for their highly-anticipated clash at Oldham on Sunday.

Oldham boss Scott Naylor, himself a former Super League winner, has hailed this weekend's match as one of the biggest of the Betfred League One season, even so early in the campaign.

And, given the noted force in the Roughyeds' forward ranks, Ford is cheered to be able to bring in fit-again back-rower James Donaldson from partner club Hull KR, as his side bid to kickstart their season by registering a significant win against likely promotion rivals from over the Pennines. The 26-year-old Cumbrian is set to form a strong bench alongside the recent loan recruit from Huddersfield, Colton Roche.

Ford also has Matty March available again on dual-reg, with the scrum-half re-forming his burgeoning half-back partnership with the in-form Connor Robinson.

Said Ford of his pack: "They will be very important.

"Oldham have got a really physical team. They are relentless around the ruck and are a really good side when they get on the front foot.

"Our contacts have to be good and we'll have to recognise when we've lost a ruck and deal with that.

"We will need our firepower to take us forward."

Donaldson played 79 times for Bradford when they were a Super League outfit before moving to Hull KR upon the Bulls' relegation from the top flight in 2014.

He had interest from NRL clubs 16 months ago after Rovers were relegated from Super League but opted to stay on Humberside and help the Robins back up to the big time, only to suffer a serious knee injury last Good Friday which ended what had hitherto been a stunning season for the back-rower, with nine tries in eight starts. He has played 57 times in all for the Robins.

He was set to return to action last week for Hull KR's game against Castleford only to be struck down by illness. Instead, he comes into the Knights' ranks.

Said Ford: "He's a tough, uncompromising middle unit player who's strong in contact and good in the wrestle.

"He's played a good number of Super League games and he's really looking forward to playing for us. He's had that injury and a little illness but he's now excited to play.

"He's a quality player and someone who will enhance the performance of the players around him."

On Marsh, who played an hour of the last-gasp opening-day loss to Bradford with a dead leg, Ford said: "He's an important part of our team and combines well with Connor. He's a quality player and that's reflected in his status. Half-backs are always important to a good performance, just as the forward pack are."

The inclusion of Donaldson and Roche allows Ford to shift Player of the Year Joe Batchelor out from second-row to centre.

Said the coach: "Joe is very smart. He can play centre and back-row equally well. He runs good lines, he has excellent skill, he's quick and defends well.

"With the middle unit players we've got available, we can push Graeme Horne into the back row and Joe out wider.

"It's a case of horses for courses this week with what we're expecting from Oldham."

Ford has already warned of Oldham's defensive strengths - the Roughyeds having kept a clean sheet so far this term and having "blown away" Keighley in pre-season.

In response to Naylor's assertion this is a huge match in League One, Ford said: "It's worth two points, same as all others. But it's certainly going to be a tough game.

"We rate Oldham. They dusted Keighley up and nilled Whitehaven away. All things being equal - and this isn't meant to sound arrogant - both teams (Oldham and York) can expect to be competing for the top places. We have some quality and so do Oldham.

"We recognise they will be a major threat and we have to be on the money to take the points."

Oldham have added packman Ryan Lannon to their squad on dual-reg from Salford.

Oldham: from Johnson, Eccleston, Reid, Holmes, Crook, Hewitt, Joy, Neal, Briscoe, Langtree, Spencer, Wilkinson, Hughes, Nelmes, Bent, Bridge, Lannon, McComb, West.

Knights: from Moss, Robson, Batchelor, Hey, Cockayne, Mazive, C Robinson, Marsh, A Robinson, Ellis, Siddons, Horne, Scott, Spears, Jubb, Donaldson, Roche, Porter, Hawksworth.