YORK City Knights fans are being urged to get behind the injury-ravaged team this weekend in their hour of need.

The Knights could well be down to just 14 fit players for Sunday's crucial Powergen Challenge Cup tie at Featherstone - meaning they desperately need the supporters to effectively provide the proverbial 'extra man' at Post Office Road.

Coach Richard Agar is working to "pull a rabbit out of the hat" to give his side a boost before the fifth-round clash - there were no clues as to what the 'trick' was -but as it stands the Knights are set to rely on a Dunkirk spirit in a bid to pull off a shock victory.

Chief executive Steve Ferres told the Evening Press: "It's all hands to the pumps. It's pretty desperate to be honest - at last count we had 14 fit players and that's desperate especially going into a game such as this."

Injuries mean centre Chris Langley has been ruled out of playing against his old club, while Mick Ramsden is unlikely to make it and Damian Ball is also very doubtful. Wingers Chris Smith and Rob Kama are already out, while Tom Andrews and Ryan Benjefield are cup-tied and John Smith is suspended. The Knights have also lost Rich Hayes to retirement and Joe Helme and Danny Seal to work commitments since the start of the season, while Damien Reid has gone to Barrow.

Aussies Aaron Wood and Simon Friend have also suffered knocks but are expected to play, leaving Ferres to declare: "It's Dunkirk-time. The 14 fit players will give it their best shot and we'll patch others up and put them on the bench.

"It's an unfortunate situation that for one reason or another since the start of the season we have 12 players out.

"It's not as if we can do anything about the situation because it's the Cup (meaning any new or loan players would be cup-tied), so we've got what we've got. We might have a trick up our sleeve and we're working to pull the rabbit out of the hat as it were, but as it stands we've got 14 fit players."

He added: "I think there's going to be a big following from York and we hope they really get behind the side - they need their support more than ever.

"We know we're going to have great support and we're expecting a big following. The lads appreciate the backing they've had and they need it more than ever now."

Coach Agar, whose side shocked Rovers in the Arriva Trains Cup last week, has already said the injury situation means the pressure is on the hosts to exact immediate revenge for that result. He also said he was "genuinely looking forward to the game" as his side had nothing to lose against a club from a higher division.

Updated: 10:40 Friday, March 12, 2004