SOUTH Wales Scorpions boss Anthony Seibold has increased the pressure on York City Knights ahead of tomorrow’s Championship One clash – saying the onus is all on them.

Seibold reckons his outfit are major underdogs despite the fact they are one of only two clubs to have won both league matches so far – including a home win over Workington, who turned over the Knights at Derwent Park last week.

Knights caretaker-coach Chris Thorman has in turn dismissed those claims, saying “you’re only as good as your last game”, although he knows a second defeat in the opening three games would leave his side already playing catch-up in the promotion race.

Seibold said: “We’ll go there as deep underdogs. There’s a lot of pressure on them – they’ve recruited well and got some good Super League experience.

“Our goal is to win five games (this season). We’ve won two but it’s going to be a massive challenge.”

The Scorpions are an unknown quantity in Championship One, having filled the rugby league void in south Wales following Super League club Crusaders’ move north to Wrexham.

“We’ve got Neil Dallimore playing and he’s played only one game of rugby league before – and he’ll be playing against people like Richard Blakeway, Chris Thorman and Danny Hill,” added Seibold, who reckons his club’s development off the field is more important this year.

“It’s been a rewarding start for us – we only got the club up and running in mid-January. We’ve had some success but it will be a long, hard season. We’ve got to be grounded.”

The Scorpions won at Doncaster last week. Seibold added: “We’re stepping up to the top end of the competition tomorrow and it’s a big challenge.

“Having two long away trips in succession will be tough for our inexperienced team. We will prepare as best as possible to make the game a contest.”

The Knights’ defeat last week has seen Alex Benson and Mike Mitchell dropped, with Luke Hardbottle coming into the forwards and teenage flier Tom Lineham into the outside-backs after shining in Thursday’s reserves match.

Prop Jon Fallon is okay to play despite feeling his troublesome knee stiffen up last week. Fellow front-rower Mark Falkingham comes in as 18th man.

Thorman said of the favourites’ tag: “You’re only as good as your last game – we were poor and they won – so I don’t agree with that.

“South Wales have proved they’re no mugs with their performances and results. We have to concentrate on ourselves, especially after last week’s first-half horror show. We have to be mentally prepared as well as physically prepared. We can’t take anything for granted, not least tomorrow’s match.”

Fit-again former Welsh Premiership rugby union forward Dallimore and Joe Burke replace key forwards Ben Flower and Jordan James, who were called into the Crusaders party for their Super League match against Catalans last night.

Fellow dual-registered trio Gil Dudson, Lee Williams and Lewis Mills will play, however and, although former Crusaders loanee Anthony Blackwood is joining Barrow, 60-time rugby union sevens international Craig Richards offers a threat out wide.

Aussie half-back Andy Gay, whose dad is Welsh, is the only overseas import in the Scorpions’ 30-man squad, while former Knight Loz Wildbore, is the only non Welsh-qualified player – confounding the critics who lambasted forerunners Crusaders’ recruitment of antipodeans to help develop rugby league in south Wales.

Seibold added: “Crusaders were criticised for having so many overseas players but that was necessary at the time to help develop the game here. We’re starting to see some of that development work come through.”

Hull-based Wildbore, who is likely to play at stand-off, became a fans’ favourite at Huntington Stadium in his five games at the end of last season, before making his surprise switch to The Gnoll.

He said: “I loved playing at the Knights. York’s got a loyal fan-base and one of the unique things they do after a game is the players run over and sing with the fans. It’s a good tradition.”

Knights (probable): Ratcliffe, Reittie, Waterman, Lewis, Lineham, Thorman, Bromilow, Fallon, McLocklan, Freer, Ross, Hill, Blakeway. Subs: Stamp, Applegarth, Waller, Hardbottle.

Scorpions (possible): D James, Richards, Roets, Williams, Bateman, Wildbore, Gay, Dallimore, Owens, Dudson, Mills, Burke, A James. Subs: Parry, Phillips, Greville, Murphy.

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington).

Kick off: 3pm.