YORK City Knights are keeping fingers crossed that second-row star Sam Scott is not facing a long spell on the sidelines as concerns grow over his troublesome groin problem.

The 28-year-old former Press Player of the Year has sat out much of pre-season so far with a niggling injury carried over from the Knights' 2018 League One title-winning campaign.

And, given it is not responding well to treatment, the big-hitting back-row was to have further scans this week.

The Knights take on leading amateurs Hunslet Club Parkside in a pre-season Yorkshire Cup game on Saturday. The season proper starts with a big clash against Championship favourites Toronto Wolfpack on February 3.

Head coach James Ford said of Scott's injury: "It's not responded (to treatment) as we thought it would.

"We will see what the scan shows and go from there.

"It was diagnosed as an abductor tear but it's not settled as we would have expected it to so they're having a deeper look to clarify what the issue is."

Asked if it was a big concern a month before the season starts, Ford said: "It's certainly not a positive but there's no point worrying too much until we know what's what.

"We're doing everything we can. We're getting the information and we'll amend what we're doing then."