AN injury-hit York City Knights could be without as eight players for Sunday's crucial clash with Halifax Panthers (3pm).

York were already without injured outside backs Levi Edwards, Bradley Ward and Olly Butterworth as well as forwards Ronan Michael and Pauli Pauli, the latter being suspended, for last weekend's trip to Bradford Bulls.

The Knights came away from Odsal with a 20-6 victory but at a cost, having lost Jacob Ogden to concussion, Masi Matongo to a calf issue and Brendan O'Hagan to a hamstring pull, although fortunately it is not a repeat of his previous such injury problem.

The team selection concerns come at arguably the worst possible time for head coach James Ford, whose third-placed side take on Halifax, who sit fourth in the Betfred Championship, at the LNER Community Stadium this weekend.

On Matongo, Ford reported: “He didn’t train on Tuesday and we’re going to give him until Friday. We’ll see where he’s at by then.”

Speaking about centres Ogden and Edwards, the coach added: “I’ve not seen Jacob yet, he couldn’t do anything on Tuesday.

"I'm hoping he's alright but I'll find out a little bit more tonight (Thursday).

"We're still without Levi. He had a scan about 10 days ago and we still haven’t got the information back.

“It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. Hopefully we get that soon and we’ll have a clearer picture as to what the issue is and what the time frame is.”

Given that fellow unavailable back Ward is receiving another check from a neurologist amid his concussion problem, Ford has just one recognised centre available in James Glover.

Forwards Chris Clarkson, Joe Porter and Bailey Antrobus - the latter having signed from St George Illawarra Dragons last week - could all step into the role.

“Clarky dropped in the centre last week for us and wherever you play Joe Porter, he’s going to give you the same amount of effort and endeavour," enthused Ford.

"He gives his all for the team and I’ve no issues where we play Joe.

“And there’s Bailey, who's played most of his career in the back-row, but he's played a fair bit at centre and on the wing at a good level.

“There’s some versatility around Bailey and that was one of the things that attracted us to him as well as his potential and ability.”

York do have more options at half-back - in Jamie Ellis, Liam Harris and Brendan O'Hagan - should the latter not be fit.

O'Hagan pulled his hamstring through fatigue at Bradford, although Ford insisted: “We don't think it’s that bad, but he’s going in for a scan to get a clear picture.

"Hopefully we can get the information on that within a sensible time frame.

"It's something that we really need to address because we're sending players in for scans and we're just not getting the information quickly enough to help us tailor or use the loan market if needed."

Ford though was keen to stress that his squad would not be feeling sorry for itself despite the current predicament.

"There’s some adversity there for us, in that even I don’t know what team I’m going to select yet," he admitted.

“But it is what it is. Every team goes through stages in the season where they’ve got personnel missing.

“What it does do is give opportunities to some of the lads who have been pretty keen to get one and have been pretty unfortunate to miss out."