YORK City Knights are aiming to be top of the props when National League Two rivals Swinton Lions visit Huntington Stadium tomorrow.

With player-coach Paul Broadbent being passed fit to play and this week's signing of the formidable former Doncaster front-rower Craig Forsyth, the Knights will have the luxury of four props in the 17-man squad.

That means the duo, along with Richie Hayes and Andy Burland, will be out to make it a miserable afternoon for the Lions defence.

Broadbent, who had looked certain to miss out after twisting his knee in the excellent 27-20 win over Barrow Border Raiders on Sunday, is now likely to use a rotation tactic to ensure his key power- play stars are kept fresh to cause optimum damage.

He told the Evening Press: "It will be good to have four props in the side. Richie Hayes has been playing a lot of rugby, so we can now move things around.

"It means we can have two props on the bench, like we had at the start of the season, and will have a good opportunity to bring on two fresh guys."

Despite being clear to play after coming through training unscathed, Broadbent does have question marks over the availability of Leigh Deakin and Scott Fletcher.

Deakin has had an x-ray on a damaged foot, while Fletcher, the man-of-the-match against Barrow, has tweaked a knee. Also missing will be full-back/centre Lee Moreton, who signed from West Hull ARLC this week, as he has a prior engagement.

However, Broadbent remains confident that his charges have put their bad spell behind them.

"I honestly believe the lads have turned the corner," he said. "It started against Keighley. Although the first half was scratchy, the lads were competitive in the second half and we have carried that positive attitude forward.

"We know that we can't rest on what we did last week and we know what will happen if we rest on our laurels, but we can feel the confidence building again and this is what we had when we were doing well earlier in the season.

"But nothing comes without hard work."

Broadbent will go into the game with a good idea of what to expect from tomorrow's visitors.

He added: "I have watched them on video and they play a very controlled game. Peter Roe will have them fired up and well prepared."

This is Swinton's first fixture for 23 days - a break which has been good and bad for the Lions.

The Lions' scheduled home clash with London Skolars on May 25 was postponed due to re-seeding of their Moor Lane pitch and a vacant weekend preceded that due to the Arriva Trains Cup quarter-finals.

Swinton coach Roe has admitted the break had come at the wrong time for his side, who were wanting to kick on from their victory over Sheffield Eagles back on May 11.

Roe will be without ex-St Helens prop Andy Leathem, who has retired due to work commitments as a debt collector.

Swinton will be without Chris Roe (torn calf muscle) and possibly Phil Cushion (ankle) for the trip to York.

Knights squad (from): Smith, Blaymire, Law, Callaghan, Deakin, Thaler, Brough, Burland, Jackson, Hayes, Cain, Fletcher, Krause, Broadbent, Hallas, Forsyth, Ramsden, Molloy.

Updated: 10:57 Saturday, May 31, 2003