YORK City Knights are well aware of the challenges posed by Featherstone Rovers' stand-out half-backs ahead of the meeting of the two sides this weekend.

York host Betfred Championship leaders Featherstone at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday evening (7.30pm) and are hoping to secure their biggest league win this year.

In order to do that, they may have to stop Rovers' dangerous pairing of Tom Holmes and Fa'amanu Brown.

Holmes has several years of Betfred Super League experience, at Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants, while Samoan international Brown has made an assured start after his move from NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs.

“Nu Brown is a running threat and has a big right-foot step," said York head coach James Ford. "He’s played at a good level over in Australia, so he definitely poses a threat to us.

“Tom Holmes is a very competitive half who can ride tackles and has a good array of passing options as well.

“Both present a challenge and we’ll have a good look at them, be aware of them and we’re looking forward to the contest.”

Featherstone currently top the Championship with three wins from as many matches and are living up to their pre-season hype.

“I think they’re everyone’s favourites or they’re certainly on a par with Toulouse," Ford said. "James Webster has recruited a very good squad and he is doing a great job with them over there.

“They’ve scored a lot of tries in each of the games that they’ve played and they’ve scored some nice tries.

“It’ll be a really tough challenge but it’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to.”

Elsewhere, York have made two changes to their 21-man squad, with youngster Myles Harrison replacing Connor Wynne, who has returned to parent club Hull FC, and the fit-again Joe Porter coming in for Yusuf Aydin.

York City Knights squad: Marsh, Bass, Salter, Atkins, K Dixon, R Dixon, Jubb, Clarkson, Scott, Cuthbertson, Baldwinson, Stock, Kirmond, Green, Spears, Porter, Jones-Bishop, Barcoe, Harrison, Washbrook, Dean.