DAVE WOODS believes York City Knights are still in the hunt for a quarter-final spot in the Northern Rail Cup – and two big victories could see them beat the odds and progress.

The Knights lost their opening two games to big-spending Barrow and competition favourites Featherstone, but they stole a bonus point each time to stay within two points of the top-four qualification zone in pool one at the half-way point.

And the team currently in fourth, Dewsbury, must play Barrow in the fourth and final group game, possibly leaving the door slightly ajar for the Knights.

Woods could be tempted to give run-outs to fringe players, or a couple coming back from injury, in Sunday’s game at perennial strugglers London Skolars as the club gear up for the forthcoming Championship campaign.

But the Aussie says reaching the knockout rounds remains the target and he will pick his side accordingly.

“We’re mindful of the fact we can still make it if we win both group games and we want to try to do that,” he said.

“Looking at the table, it’s possible. We still have a chance. Results need to go our way and we need to win both games and win them well, and then it’s in the hands of the gods.”

One change might be enforced as scrum-half Jonny Presley suffered concussion on Sunday – meaning he cannot remember his try which helped the Knights win a bonus point against Featherstone.

This could present youngster Scott Woods with a chance, or see Mark Barlow and Paul Stamp take over at half-back.

Backs Tom Bush and Sam Lynch are also now in contention after overcoming their respective shoulder and hamstring problems and returning to full training.

Elsewhere on the injury front, back-rower Ryan Clarke is also back in full training after his broken hand in pre-season, but he might not be considered for action until the Challenge Cup tie against Northumbria University in early March as he builds up his fitness.

Fellow former Gateshead back-rower Matt Barron is also stepping up his training after his groin injury in the friendly against his former club at the end of January, but he has only an outside chance of being fit for the last group game, at home to Keighley a week on Sunday.

Centre Duane Straugheir is also about a fortnight from fitness after his elbow injury at Barrow, while prop Nathan Freer is two or three weeks away after tests showed a slight hamstring tear. Full-back James Haynes is also still awaiting an MRI scan on his neck problem.