YORK City Knights will take on Challenge Cup champions Leeds Rhinos in a behind-closed-doors session as part of their pre-season preparations.

The Knights will face Leeds in an opposed session on March 4, a week before they take on another Betfred Super League side in Hull FC in their first pre-season friendly at the LNER Community Stadium.

The fixture, scheduled for March 11 (7.30pm), will be York’s first at the new ground.

As things stand, the two assignments against top-flight opposition are York’s only planned pre-season arrangements ahead of the 2021 season opener at Sheffield Eagles in the Betfred Challenge Cup on March 19.

Head coach James Ford explained: “When Jon (Flatman, chairman) and I spoke about the pre-season schedule we wanted to see the players under some stress and we wanted to go up against a top-quality side.

“We’re fortunate enough to have an opposed session against Leeds Rhinos on March 4, the week before we play Hull in a friendly game, so that will be a good challenge for us.”

On the Hull FC fixture, Ford added: “They’re a massive Super League club. Brett Hodgson is a former Man of Steel and world-class player and I’m sure he’ll be a world-class coach.

“It’ll be a challenge for us. But I get to see my players go up against some of Super League’s very best and I get to see how they cope with that stress and that pressure and see if they can embrace our philosophies of play under that pressure.

“I will be making judgements on players. We’ve got a very good squad. If I’m honest, I don’t why people are embarrassed to say this, but I don’t know what my best 17 is.

“I’ve got a best 23 at the minute and the players will pick that 17 themselves with how they train and play against Hull and Sheffield.”