JAMES FORD is relishing having competition for places in the vital hooking role again after revealing Harry Carter is fully fit and vying for a place in the 17.

The York City Knights boss had only one hooker, Will Jubb, available for much of pre-season due to Carter's injuries and the fact Kriss Brining only joined on the eve of the Betfred Championship campaign.

But the livewire Carter was available for Sunday's win at Dewsbury Rams, meaning Ford had to make a choice for the first time since last season, and the 25-year-old will be pushing for one of the two interchange dummy-half places again for this weekend's visit of bogey team Barrow Raiders.

Jubb had started against Dewsbury with Brining coming on as sub.

Ford said: "Harry has been back in team training and has looked sharp. I went with those two hookers (Jubb and Brining) because they had played well (against Toronto).

"When someone waits for an opportunity and then does alright, they should usually be rewarded and stay in the side. It they dip below our standards, then maybe not.

"It's great to have that competition back. There are 27 league games to play, all of high intensity week in week out.

"Players are going to find form or not be on top form or pick up knocks. Everyone has a part to play.

"Whether a player is first choice now or next week or in five weeks does not matter. What matters is that they train to a good standard, strive to get better and when they get an opportunity they help the team to progress."

Ford will also have to fill a wing vacancy against Barrow on Sunday as Perry Whiteley begins his two-match ban.

Judah Mazive would seem to be next in line given he has been in the 19-man match-day party for both games so far this term but young speedster Kevin Brown, recruited from St Helens academy in the winter, is also an option.

Said Ford of his selection process: "Judah's got more experience playing against men but that doesn't phase me. What I'm looking for is a reaction from the blokes in training and we will go with the people who I feel are more deserving and will bring the most to the team."

Meanwhile, skipper Tim Spears will have his knee clear-out operation on Friday and is expected to be in the treatment room for another month afterwards.

Second-row enforcer Sam Scott and winger Matt Chilton are also expected to be sidelined for another "two or three weeks" due to their abductor and knee injuries, respectively, but back-rower Mike Kelly is rated "not far away" from being fit to resume.

On Scott, who has been sidelined all year, and Chilton, who picked up an impact injury in pre-season, Ford said: "They're both in similar situations, slowly being phased back into training. They're probably two or three weeks away from being in contention.

"We're slowly increasing the volume and intensity of what they're doing so that when they come back in they shouldn't break down again and will just be ready to go."

Neither player has been set a target date for a return. Ford added: "We will see how they respond to their treatment and rehab and we'll go from there."