DAVE WOODS takes his York City Knights team to Leigh tomorrow believing they can beat the odds and stay up – and he reckons Jack Lee’s decision to sign a new deal at Huntington Stadium shows the players believe it too.

The Knights face a daunting task away to Ian Millward’s buoyant side – the Centurions have already lifted the Northern Rail Cup and are neck-and-neck with Featherstone in the race for the Championship’s top spot – and anything but victory will leave them in the relegation zone.

But, as revealed yesterday, they go into the game boosted by star hooker Lee agreeing a new two-year deal, having previously looked set to join play-off contenders Sheffield for 2012.

And, while head coach Woods admits his side face an almighty battle both tomorrow (3pm) and in the two remaining games, he says there is belief in the camp they can escape the drop.

Said the Aussie of Lee: “He knows the place, how we play and what we do.

“He enjoys his footy at York and the people he’s playing with. He can see the good things we’re doing and it’s good he’s committed to staying.

“If we can stay up he knows we’ll do a lot better next year — all of the players know that.

“We’re all confident we can stay up.

“Ryan Esders said to me he knows he’s not been at his best this year but he wants to do it in these last three games.

“They’ve all got that attitude – and Jack’s decision to stay shows his belief in the club.”

Lee, the club’s vice-captain, was set to sign for Sheffield until the Knights came back with an improved offer thanks to cash from the new squad builder fund.

Woods, who rates the 22-year-old among the “top three or four” hookers in the Championship and was instrumental in his staying, said: “He’s been one of our most consistent players all year.

“He plays a lot of minutes, defensively he’s very good, and he gets us on the front foot.

“It’s great we can keep him. Hooker is a key position.

“He’s still only young as well. I think he could offer us a bit more next season. He will improve, and he’ll get better the more the team gets better.”

Lee said: “Obviously I’m looking forward to the next two years but my immediate aim is to help keep the club in the Championship.”

The first goal is to return from Leigh with at least a bonus point.

To that end, Woods has named the same 17 as that which lost 44-16 to Featherstone last week, plus Ed Smith, who will rival Joe Hemmings, an impressive debutant last week, for a bench berth.

Lee Waterman was also in contention until damaging ankle ligaments in the reserves’ loss at Leigh on Thursday night.

Woods said: “We went toe-to-toe with Leigh at Huntington Stadium so we know we can do that. We’ve just got to be very good defensively.”

Leigh, who have lost only once all season, are set to field a similar team to that which beat derby foes Widnes 24-18 last week, but with local prodigy Sam Hopkins replacing Tyrone McCarthy.

Boss Millward said: “York caused Featherstone problems last week and they scored points against us last time. We’re keen to make sure we’re stronger across the park than then.”

Leigh (probable): Donlan, Maden, Evans, Nanyn, McGilvray, Ridyard, Ellis, Hill, Hunter-Paul, Mills, Littler, Goulden, Taylor.

Subs: Thornley, Nash, Duffy, Hopkins.

Knights (probable): Bush, Sutton, Haynes, Garside, Tuffour, Thackeray, Woods, Freer, Lee, Benson, Lewis, Esders, Clarke.

Subs: from Presley, Jones, Waller, Smith, Hemmings.

Referee: Tim Roby (St Helens).