BEN JOHNSTON insisted that he isn’t resting on his laurels and stressed that there is no guarantee over his spot in the York City Knights side.

Johnston is one of only two recognised half-backs in the York squad, having been signed from Halifax in the off-season to partner scrum-half Connor Robinson in the play-making positions.

Although regular full-back Matty Marsh - who has previously played in the halves for Hull KR - featured at half-back in the 34-0 defeat at Leigh Centurions, it seems highly likely that Johnston and Robinson will be the half-back pairing for the foreseeable future,

The York number six was though quick to point out that he has earn his place in the starting 13.

When asked about the progression of his partnership with Robinson, Johnston replied: "I'm just focused on nailing my spot down first of all.

"There is options for Fordy to look at there.

"If that (Johnston and Robinson) is the one that he goes with there then, then I'll need to have nailed my spot down.

"We're all constantly working hard - it sounds cliche - but we are.

"I'm sure that those performances will come.

"When we get it right in training, it looks good and I'm sure that those points will come."

Reflecting on his time so far at York, Johnston continued: "I'm loving it. Training is really intense and I feel like I'm learning something with every session."

"Obviously, it's not been the best start with the results, losing our first couple of games.

"But, we've come to probably two of the best places away from home in the league. We don't want to come up with excuses though.

"We're still looking for that first one and to kick on"

The Knights' 34-0 defeat by Leigh on Sunday, leaves them winless from their opening two Betfred Championship matches after a 22-10 loss at Toulouse in round one.

York's start to the season has been particularly tough, having seen them pitted against two of the division's few sides whom feature full-time players in their squad - another one of which the Knights face on Sunday in the Coral Challenge Cup, London Broncos.

"It was a really disappointing result obviously," Johnston reflected.

"I think that we started the game well, when we went set for set with them.

"Obviously the scoreline has blown out at the end there, which is disappointing.

"We know that we need to be better than that.

"In the first half, they threw a lot at us and we defended really well.

"I think that we gave away too many penalties and maybe we didn't ask enough questions of them down there end.

"I think that's took its toll at the end of the game.

"When you're behind as well, you're always chasing the game.

"The game ran away from us at the end, which isn't like York and that's not our mentality or attitude. That was really disappointing."

Going forward, York execution was lacking, though Johnston felt that the change in the key combinations shouldn't be blamed.

"I thought that we got them a couple of times on the edges," he said.

"Obviously, there was no Connor today and there were some new combinations as well.

"But, in the week, we practised well and we had a good game plan in place and it was up to us to be able to execute it.

"I've trained a lot with Marshy and Connor and there's no excuses there on my behalf there."