HEAD coach Dave Woods reckons the two blank weekends have come at a good time for York City Knights as they look to regroup following the club record defeat – and bounce back with a vengeance.

The break has firstly given key players extra time to recover from injuries – with talismanic pair Jack Lee and Chris Thorman expected to be fit for the big rematch at home to arch-rivals Hunslet on Good Friday.

And, while no new recruits are in the pipeline as has been mooted, it gives time for the current crop to take stock and recharge batteries.

The nightmare 76-12 Championship thrashing at Widnes on Sunday was made worse by injuries to playmaker Thorman (groin) and forwards Jack Stearman (knee), Matt Barron (knee) and Nathan Freer (leg), all after winger Dave Sutton pulled out ahead of the game due to tonsillitis.

But none is as bad as first feared and all five, along with Lee (knee), who returns to training next week, are likely to be okay for the next match, along with former Super League packman Ryan Esders, who will be back from his four-match ban in another timely boost.

Furthermore, long-time crocks Brett Waller, who is back in training, and full-back James Haynes, who will take part in full contact sessions as of next week, are also outside chances for recalls that day, with big prop Waller set for a run-out in the reserves at Oldham next Saturday – his first outing since July.

Matt Garside, one of the standout players in recent weeks, is now down with tonsillitis, but the break means he too should be available for the Huntington Stadium clash against fellow promoted club Hunslet, with whom the Knights drew, after a second-half comeback, on the opening day of this league campaign.

Notable defeats have followed against Sheffield, Barrow and Widnes, but boss Woods says his charges can restart their season on a big day against their south Leeds foes.

“These couple of weeks have come at a good time, and the next few weeks after that gives us an opportunity to kick-start the season,” he said.

“We probably should’ve won against Hunslet but against Barrow, Sheffield and Widnes – you’ve got no right to win coming out of the division we’ve come from.

“There are winnable games coming up and if you pick up a few victories you’re back on track.

“The mood in the camp is still pretty good – if you had seen us train you would wonder how these blokes haven’t won a (league) game yet.

“There’s a bit of banter, blokes smiling and laughing, but when it’s time to get stuck in the mood changes and everything is switched-on and focused. Everything’s looked good.

“That’s what’s been so disappointing – we’re doing it in training but it’s not happening for us in games. We need to fix that up.”

Woods, pictured, added: “Hunslet is a good one to come back with. We’ll need a stack of people there to support us and we’ll need to put on a good show.

“We won’t be letting them (Hunslet) out of the blocks like we did at their place and hopefully we will have a strong referee.

“We’d really like a big support on Good Friday and it can kick-start us into some good stuff.”