YORK City Knights sealed a spot in the Championship play-offs for the first time since their reformation in 2002 after victory over Featherstone Rovers just over a week ago.

Speaking to the media after the game, York coach James Ford quipped “Don’t ask me how it works!” and many Knights fans have felt similar about the convoluted nature of the five-team play-off structure.

As it stands, York are in fourth place in the table on 35 points, three points ahead of Featherstone Rovers and a point behind both Toulouse and Leigh.

Should the top seven teams remain in their current positions, the following would occur for York. The Knights would face Featherstone Rovers in the ‘elimination final’ at Bootham Crescent firstly.

Providing they come through that match, they play in the semi-final against the loser of the ‘qualifying final’ which, as it stands, would be either Toulouse or Leigh.

If York win that game, they will then through to a ‘preliminary final’. They will go against the loser of semi final 2 - which will be contested between Toronto and the winner of Toulouse vs Leigh.

Were York to win that game they would then progress to the play-off final, facing the winner of semi final 2 - which is played between Toronto and the winner of Toulouse vs Leigh.

All of the matches will take place at the home ground of the highest placed team in the final league standings. Date for the play-off matches have yet to be revealed.

So, if York remain in fourth place, they will have to win four matches - three of which will be away from home - to win a place in next year’s Super League.

Of course, there are still two league matches left this year and these positions are still very much up for change - the Knights travel to Leigh and Halifax in the final fortnight of the regular season.

Here’s how the system works.

Elimination Final: 4th vs 5th.

Qualifying Final: 2nd vs 3rd

SF1: Loser QF vs Winner EF

SF2: 1st vs Winner QF.

Preliminary Final: Loser SF2 vs Winner SF1.

Play-Off final: Winner of SF2 vs Preliminary Final.