YORK City Knights today heaved a sigh of relief ahead of Sunday's National League Two elimination play-off after league chiefs decided to take no further action over the fisticuffs that marred Friday's win over Hunslet.

That means only winger Rob Kama, who was sent off for stamping earlier in the game, will face a disciplinary hearing and a potential ban, with his date in the dock set for next Tuesday.

Knights boss Paul Broadbent said he was glad nothing more was being made of the fighting but stated that, either way, it would have made little difference to preparations for Sunday's showdown with Barrow Raiders.

"In games like that there's going to be times when there's a bit of tension overspill, it's one of those things," he said of the brawl, which involved several players from either side.

"I didn't think it was too much of a serious incident and I'm glad they're not making any more of it.

"We've got one or two injuries and we didn't want to lose any more."

The fighting ended with Hunslet's Sean Ibbetson being sent off and two more players, including York's Trevor Krause, sin-binned. But after studying a video of the match, the Rugby Football League's executive committee decided no further action was necessary other than the obligatory hearings for the players sent off.

Broadbent added: "It would not have made any difference to our plans for Sunday. What happens next week (in disciplinary hearings) won't matter if we don't win against Barrow. We will worry about next week next week."

Meanwhile, inspirational Barrow stand-off Tane Manihera is likely to be fit for Sunday's knockout clash after missing the Raiders' 38-34 win at Swinton at the weekend.

The play-maker, who was also forced to sit out the Raiders' defeat at Huntington Stadium in August, has been troubled by calf and knee injuries but is expected to be ready by Sunday and could play a major role.

Centre Paul Jones (ribs) and utility forward Geoff Luxon (knee) also missed the victory at Swinton but they too are expected to travel to York.

However, Barrow coach Cameron Bell has several other injury worries, with versatile forward Steve Jackson (broken nose, eye problems), winger Jamie Marshall (groin) and giant centre Andy McClure (back) his biggest concerns.

The Knights are expecting another bumper crowd for Sunday's match, which will be the first time a York side has competed in a promotion play-off. Defeat for the Knights would end their season while victory would see them face Keighley or Hunslet in the next knockout round.

In the event of a draw, ten minutes each way of extra-time will be played and if the scores are still level, it will then go to a golden point.

Free First York buses taking supporters from different areas of the city to the match are back on following the end of the drivers' strike.

They go from: Thanet Road Baths (Edmund Wilson) 2pm, picking up at Stonebow Job Centre 2.15pm; Burton Stone Lane (Corner House) 2pm, picking up at Lowther Street (shops) 2.15pm; to wait at York Railway Station forecourt from 2pm to meet potential trains from Barrow, departing 2.20pm to stadium. Return buses depart Huntington Stadium at 5pm.

Updated: 11:21 Friday, September 12, 2003