JOE PORTER is set to make a welcome return to York City Knights' team on Sunday - after the club suffered another injury double whammy.

On loan half-back Cain Southernwood and star prop Graeme Horne have joined the growing numbers in the treatment room due to recent impact injuries, with Southernwood's absence forcing head coach James Ford into reshuffling his playmakers yet again for the rearranged Championship clash at Rochdale Hornets.

Horne's place in the pack ranks, though, will be taken by Porter, who has missed the last four games after suffering a hip injury in the Challenge Cup defeat at Widnes in mid-April.

Asked if the 26-year-old's return to fitness was good timing, Ford said: "It's fantastic timing.

"He's a big player for us. He gives us a lot of impact off the bench.

"He's been a key performer for us over the last 12-18 months so I was pretty chuffed when the medical and conditioning team passed him over to us."

On the losses of Southernwood, after just two games on loan from Hunslet, and former Hull KR favourite Horne, Ford said: "There's been some promise around Cain. He had a big hand in Ronan Dixon's try just before half-time against Batley (last week) and I have liked his attitude. He's keen to kick on and play to his very best, which would be good for anybody.

"As we've said before, Graeme is a massively important player for us.

"But this gives an opportunity for other people in the squad to step up and fill their boots."

Ford - who will have prop Jordan Baldwinson available after his loan from Wakefield was made permanent - is poised to move Matty Marsh from full-back to Southernwood's stand-off berth, with Jason Bass switching to full-back and Brad Hey coming back into the side in the centres.

Marsh, the former Hull KR starlet, arrived at York as a half-back and has featured in parts there this season.

He shone in that role in the Challenge Cup win at Barrow in March and his switch to stand-off against Widnes in the league on Easter Monday helped to spark a startling comeback.

"Matty has played more rugby at six than at one (in his career) and, while he says himself there's some stuff he wants to get better at, he's making a good fist of becoming a really good full-back," said Ford.

"He's comfortable in the halves and he was really key to us in our win against Barrow when in there."

On Bass, who has featured mainly in the centres this season following his move from Coventry Bears, Ford added: "Full-back was his main position at Coventry and with England Students, and he's been moving to full-back during games in the last month or so.

"It's something we've been considering. He's got a lot of positives to his game and I'm looking forward to seeing how he shapes up there this week."

Rochdale, bottom of the table, would not make their squad public until Saturday but The Press understands they will have winger Jack Johnson as well as packman Luis Johnson available on dual-reg from Warrington.

The former played for the Wire in their win at Castleford last week following a late call-up but, with players returning from injury, has slipped back down the pecking order and is set instead for a fourth run-out with the Hornets.

They have also brought in young outside-backs Reece Hamlett and James Worthington on loan from Wigan, and have given permanent deals to Rochdale Mayfield utility Lewis Sheridan and Wigan St Cuthbert’s back-rower Michael Coleman, who has been training at Salford.

Sheridan could well be recalled to the 17 on Sunday.

Brandon Wood, Callum Wood and Ryan Millington were in the side that lost last week to Featherstone in Matt Calland's first match in charge but were not set to feature this weekend.

Scott Moore, running threat Dan Abram and hooker Ben Moores provide a dangerous triumvirate in the pivots.

Rochdale (possible): Kay, Ainscough, Morris, Worthington, J Johnson, Moore, Abram, Carberry, Moores, Cottington, L Johnson, Gillam, Mitchell. Subs: from Gregory, Tala, Ryan, Sheridan, Morris, Coleman.

Knights (possible): Bass, Mazive, Hey, Salter, Whiteley, Marsh, Robinson, Baldwinson, Jubb, Teanby, Jordan-Roberts, Stock, Spears. Subs: from Brining, Blagbrough, Porter, Dixon, Kelly, Brown.