MATTY MARSH is set to move into the half-back positions when York City Knights host Bradford Bulls this weekend.

Talisman Connor Robinson is suspended for the game having received a Grade B charge by the RFL for a punching incident during last month's pre-season game between the two clubs.

As a result, Marsh, who predominantly features at full-back, is set for a move into the scrum-half spot alongside stand-off Ben Johnston.

The former Super League player has played in the position before at Hull Kingston Rovers.

"We're not blessed for options in the halves and Marshy has played the vast majority of his career in the halves," said head coach James Ford.

"So I don't think that it will be a surprise to John to see Matty in the halves."

Had Robinson been available for selection this weekend, he may not have been fit to play after limping off midway through the second half in last weekend's 22-10 defeat at Toulouse.

Ford is hopeful that he can be fit in time for the trip to Leigh Centurions on February 16.

"It was a blow to lose Connor at that point, when they were down to 12 (players) and we lost our half (back)," Ford added. "It's not an excuse, it's a fact.

"Initially, it's good news because we don't think it's as bad as what we had feared when we watched it back.

"It looked like an awful knee injury when his leg buckled inwards from the side. I don't believe that it was intentional, it was just a really unlucky thing to happen to him.

"But Connor is a really robust young man and we think that he's really got away with it.

"We don't think that there's anything serious there and he's recovered well this week.

"We're going to send him for a scan as a precaution, but we're hopeful that he's going to be alright for the week after.

The Knights were without Jimmy Keinhorst, Perry Whiteley and Kriss Brining for the Toulouse game.

The former two had been unavailable throughout pre-season due to injury problems, while Brining picked up a late knock.

The good news is that the trio look set for a return at Bootham Crescent this weekend.

"We probably could have gambled on all three, but they would have been gambles," said Ford. "The feedback we received was that they could play but they could also break down and then we might lose them for six to 12 weeks.

"It was a more sensible approach to give them a bit more time.

"Jimmy should feature this week as should Kriss and we're hopeful that Perry will as well. Those extra eight days that they've had should put them in a good spot.

"It was disappointing not to have been able to include because we want to win every single game, but at the same time you've got to manage risk.

"We gambled a little bit late last year in the game against Featherstone when we played Horney (Graeme Horne) and Salts (Liam Salter), but that was the time to gamble. It's not the time to gamble in round one when you could lose them for the rest of the season."

York City Knights 21-man squad: Marsh, Whiteley, Keinhorst, Salter, Sharp, Johnston, Jubb, Teanby, Scott, Spears, Brining, Green, Clarkson, Porter, Baldwinson, Stock, Bass, Hey, Jordan-Roberts, Wallis, Harrison.