YORK City Knights boss James Ford has ruled out making any emergency signings ahead of the hectic Easter period.

The Knights are down to the "bare bones" for the weekend double-header away to Featherstone on Good Friday and at home to Widnes on Bank Holiday Monday, an onerous sequence which continues with a long trip to Toulouse for a third match in nine gruelling days.

Ford bemoaned the cost of the Challenge Cup tie at Widnes last Saturday night which ended not only in defeat but with six injuries too, the team finishing the game with only 11 men. With several more key players already in the treatment room, Ford was asked if the club would bring in reinforcements.

"Certainly not for these next two games," he said.

"We've got a number of players not far away - maybe one week or two weeks, hopefully a bit sooner in some cases.

"I don't feel we need to go out and sign more players unless the situation worsens.

"It would be good to have some more options but I have confidence in the players we've got."

Nick Rawsthorne and Kevin Brown are definitely out of Friday's match due to concussion suffered last Saturday night. Players must wait at least six full days before being allowed to pass a 'head test' - and Friday's game comes a few hours too soon.

Kriss Brining (calf), Joe Porter (hip) and Mike Kelly (shoulder), who also suffered bangs on Saturday, are rated "very doubtful" for Easter, although the club are hopeful on-loan prop Jordan Baldwinson (dead leg) will pass fit for Friday.

Of the previous crocks, Ben Cockayne is definitely sidelined while half-back partner Connor Robinson and fellow key men Matty Marsh, Graeme Horne and Liam Salter remain doubtful for Friday but with better chances of passing fit for Monday.

Joe Batchelor is likely to be freed up by parent club St Helens.

Asked if on-loan half-back Lewis Heckford was a definite starter, Ford said: "He's got a strong chance. I think everybody who's fit has a chance.

"We're down to the bare bones which isn't great coming into Easter. It's frustrating to lose key players but whatever side we put out will work hard for one another. It's going to be a tough week in terms of preparation and getting cohesion in our units.

"But it's a challenge. There's adversity but there's an opportunity for a number of people to show how good they are and what character they've got."