YORK City Knights have taken exciting young St Helens hooker Aaron Smith on loan for a month - just in time to bolster an ailing squad for a potential Good Friday cracker away to a buoyant Doncaster.

The Knights will be without full-back Ash Robson and hard-hitting on-loan prop Colton Roche for the clash against the early Betfred League One table-toppers, while skipper Tim Spears and Player of the Year Joe Batchelor both face late fitness tests.

Head coach James Ford has no dual-reg players from Hull KR to call on this week either, after Rovers picked up their own injuries ahead of the busy Easter period.

But 21-year-old Smith - a former England Under-18s international who is seen at Langtree Park as a possible long-term replacement for club legend James Roby - comes in to provide legs at dummy-half, effectively as a temporary replacement for Harry Carter, who has been ruled out for the season due to a serious knee injury.

And Ford reckons it is a timely boost for a team in the midst of a rigorous start to the campaign.

"We've lost Harry for the season and we did need another nine," he explained.

"Aaron will come in with a strong running game and a quality service out of dummy-half.

"I always feel you need three nines (hookers). It's a tough position to play with lots of work. Having three allows you to keep them fresh and also pushing each other for the shirts."

With old stager Andy Ellis available again to start at number nine, Smith's arrival as an interchange pivot also allows Will Jubb - who played all 80 minutes at hooker against Keighley on Sunday - to fill in at second-row if Batchelor or Spears misses out.

He added: "Will Jubb has also got utility value. He can feature in the halves and, as we've seen before, he can fill in in the back row. He's also keen to put the team first."

Smith trained for the first time with York on Tuesday and will do so again on Thursday night before going straight into the line-up for Friday's game at the Keepmoat (3pm).

"He's looked good," added Ford. "I was pleased with how he's contributed to our practice.

"I can see why St Helens rate him, from watching him on video and in training. He seems a great kid as well. I had a chat with him and can see why a coach would like him."

Elsewhere, inexperienced half-back Liam Jackson, who played an hour of Sunday's win after coming off the bench for the injured Robson, is omitted from the 19, so Ben Cockayne will continue alongside Connor Robinson.

Cockayne started at stand-off against the Cougars before reverting to the wing in the reshuffle when Robson exited.

The changes mean veteran winger Tommy Saxton is set for his first appearance of the season.

Said Ford of the 34-year-old: "He's been looking good in training, looking sharp.

"We've had conversations about why he's not been playing and he's keen to get out there and underline to me he should have been in the side all along.

"Tommy has plenty of experience and plenty of strengths and I'm pleased to give him an opportunity. He deserves it."

Dual-reg prop Josh Johnson is not available but Ronan Dixon is fit again and fellow forwards Joe Porter and Dan Hawksworth also come in.

Doncaster (probable): Owen, Doherty, Tali, Bower, Sanderson, Harris, Hedges, C Scott, Keswick, Boyle, England, Martin, Wilkinson. Subs: Cross, Spiers, Braham, Downs. Stand-by: Scott, Muranka.

Knights (possible): Moss, Saxton, Normington, Hey, Mazive, Cockayne, C Robinson, A Robinson, Ellis, Horne, Jubb, Scott, Porter. Subs: Smith, Ronan Dixon, Siddons, Hawksworth. Fitness tests: Spears, Batchelor.