YORK City Knights could well have not one but two of their League One-winning side back in the line-up for Sunday's trip to Rochdale.

The high-flying Knights have been dealt a blow with former Hull KR star Liam Salter being ruled out with a hamstring problem suffered in last week's dramatic win over Leigh Centurions.

But they have a natural replacement in second-row enforcer Sam Scott being passed fit and he, along with captain Tim Spears, is penned in to make his first appearance of the Betfred Championship season.

Scott has been sidelined so far this year by a groin injury but has been back in full training. His recall will see Joe Batchelor switch to centre. Spears, meanwhile, was in the 19-man squad last week on his return from knee surgery but did not make the 17. He is set to replace Marcus Stock in the team this weekend.

Head coach James Ford said of Scott: "He looks ready. He's looked good in training - he's looked aggressive and hard to handle, and he's got through plenty of tough work.

"The forecast is for it to be wet through, and Rochdale will come out and fire into us, and to bring a player back in with that character, desire and aggression will benefit us.

"We've done a through job on his rehab and we're confident he's good to go."

On Spears, Ford added: "It was a close call last week. I wanted to select him but we went against it in the end. He looks ready to go. His leadership, grit and aggression can really help us this week."

Ford, meanwhile, hoped Salter would miss only one game.

"We don't think it (the hamstring injury) is a serious one. He's done some running this week but not trained with the squad. Hopefully he will be back in contention for the next game or shortly after.

"He brings a lot to us - he's good in contact and works hard and he has plenty of experience.

"But this why we have a squad. We've got Brad Hey, who's been excellent over the last couple of years, and Joe Batchelor, who has played really well in the centres, and they're both in the 19."

On omitting Stock, Ford explained: "He's done a good job. He's come from Hemel and he's not looked out of place and played three of five games so far.

"He's shown promise, has a great attitude and works hard, and that approach will see him play more through the year."

Rochdale will be without prop Adam Lawson after his month's loan from Salford ended, and fellow impressive front-rower Matt Davis is also out from the side that beat Barrow last week - the Hornets' first win of the season. Davis has gone on loan to London Broncos.

But they have Warrington loanee Sitaleki Akauola augmenting the power up top alongside player-coach Carl Forster, the former Whitehaven player-boss who took over at Spotland this winter, while packmen Michael Wheldon, Ryan Millington and Nathan Reidy are also added in the 19.

Stuart Howarth, at stand-off last week, is out due to a hamstring problem and likely to replaced in the halves by the experienced Scott Moore, who switches from hooker with Callum Wood and Declan Gregory vying for the interchange dummy-half roles with Ben Moores.

Seta Tala, from Rochdale's famous Fijian community, gets his first outing of the season, replacing Paddy Flynn (shoulder) in the centres.

Rochdale (possible): Abram, Ainscough, Case, Tala, B Wood, Moore, Whittaker, Forster, Moores, Sitaleki, Mitchell, Gillam, Livett. Subs: from C Wood, Gregory, Moran, Wheldon, Millington, Reid.

Knights (possible): Marsh, Whiteley, Bass, Batchelor, Mazive, Cockayne, Robinson, Dixon, Carter, Blagbrough, Scott, Jordan-Roberts, Spears. Subs: from Brining, Horne, Porter, Teanby, Hey, Jubb.