ROB SPICER says York City Knights will give "everything we've got" to turn over Halifax tomorrow and boost their chances of staying in National League One next year.

Both Spicer and fellow key backrower Jason Golden return for the vital 'four-pointer' after being out injured since May, and are determined to come back on a winning note.

The Knights are four points from safety, but would reduce that to two by beating Fax, the club just above them.

The 21-year-old Spicer said: "It's a really important game for us. We were unlucky not to beat Halifax last time and this is a must-win game for us to stay in this division. We will give it everything we've got to claw some points back.

"The intensity level at training has risen because everybody knows how important this is. We know we have to start putting everything together.

"I'm glad to be back - it's going to be miles better than stood watching - and everybody is still confident and raring to go."

The Press believes Spicer has not actually put pen to paper for next year, as intimated by the club this week, but we understand he is happy at York and negotiations have been positive. This is regardless of what division the club are in, assuming they recruit well.

Spicer said: "I'm still confident we won't go down. I think we've got the team to do well and, with a bit more luck, we could have had more points by now. I think the future is bright for York."

Spicer and Golden will start on the bench - alongside new Leeds loanee prop David Toothill - with Dave Buckley, Mark Blanchard and Neil Law retaining places in the back row.

Head coach Mick Cook explained: "Bucko has been pretty consistent, Blanch has been playing well and Neil Law does a lot of good things.

"It gives us plenty of options and means we can bring top-quality players in off the bench. It's good to have some of the injured players back. Both (Spicer and Golden) are in good condition but are probably lacking match fitness, and we don't want to break up the starting line-up too much on top of what we've already lost."

Jon Liddell shows his unlimited utility value by switching to scrum-half, with Scott Rhodes recovering from his hernia operation and Paul Thorman omitted.

New Fax boss Martin Hall has kept his cards close to his chest after seeing Radney Bowker and Andy Hobson return from injury while a few first-teamers did well in the Under-21s match at York on Thursday.

Youngster Joe Hirst may start after a hat-trick in that game.