JAMES FORD has warned his York City Knights side to focus on performance not the scoreboard as they seek the victory they need to maintain hopes of a fourth-placed finish.

The Knights need only a point in their last two games, starting at home to minnows Hemel Stags tomorrow (Sunday, 3pm), to be guaranteed a spot in League One's Super 8s.

But the target now is top four, which brings with it an extra home game in the seven fixtures to follow.

And, while the top three are now out of sight, that fourth spot could well come down to points-difference after Doncaster beat Oxford in midweek to go level with York and Newcastle in the table.

The Knights - who will field a much-changed team tomorrow including a first outing this year for fit-again returnee Ryan Mallinder, plus the introduction of Super League veteran Graeme Horne on dual-reg - currently have the edge with a points-difference of plus-86, despite last week's heavy loss at Toronto.

But Newcastle are just behind on plus-84 with Doncaster on plus-16, and both will themselves look to rack up points tomorrow, against whipping boys Coventry and South Wales Ironmen respectively.

Asked if his side would do likewise against the basement outfit, Ford said: "It might come down to points-difference, but we're not thinking about that.

"We're thinking about a good performance against a team we rate.

"They've got some big strong athletes, good half-backs and some pace in the back three.

"To be talking about scorelines would be a wrong thing to do, and disrespectful. We'll look to win the game. If we get the performance right, the scoreboard will look after itself."

Workington, who come to Bootham Crescent next week in the final round of regular fixtures, are still in with a shout just two points behind - and currently with the best points-difference of plus-100.

Ford said: "I've not looked at the probabilities or permutations of the remaining fixtures but basically we need to win.

"We're playing a team who have been improving, who've just won their first game of the season (against South Wales) and will come full of energy and confidence.

"We've worked hard to put ourselves in the position we're in, but we have to press that home and keep improving.

"We need arguably our best performance, given the disruption of the past week (the knock-on effect of the long trip to Toronto), to not only qualify for the Super 8s but to give ourselves a chance of finishing in the top four."