EX-YORK City Knights player- boss Paul March goes into Sunday’s crunch clash with his former club admitting the Championship One crown is now Hunslet’s to lose.

March was controversially sacked by the Knights a year ago this week but quickly found employment at the John Charles Stadium and has since turned the Hawks into league leaders and title favourites – helped by ten players who followed him from York in the off-season.

They face their old club this Sunday in a potentially highly-charged rematch following the Hawks’ comprehensive 46-10 win at Huntington Stadium in mid-May – when 38 of their points were scored by ex-Knights.

And, while the Knights could be boosted by the timely returns of key men Brett Waller and Danny Allan, March says his side are confident of completing a league double over his old employers – something no other side has achieved this term – to keep on track for the title.

“It probably is ours to lose but we are taking it week by week,” said March, whose team are three points ahead of Oldham with by far the best points-difference in the division, although the Roughyeds have a game in hand.

“We’ve played 15 games and will have four left after this one, and we’ve been top for most of the season. We can’t slip up. If we lose, Oldham could nick it.

“It (the title) is not nailed on. We have to perform every week. If we switch off for just five minutes someone could come in and bite us, like Rochdale did.

“It’s in our hands. If we win every game, we win the league.”

March said Sunday’s clash was not a grudge match but intimated his players would have extra incentive to keep their run going.

“Everyone wants to play their former club and impress. But we got everything (the grudge element) out of the way when we played earlier in the season,” he said.

“Confidence is high. We’re scoring good tries but our defence is what has pleased me most. We’ve only conceded 209 points.”

This will be the first time March will have come up against new Knights boss Dave Woods since the Aussie led Gateshead to four wins out of four over the Knights in 2008.

“He’s got a good record,” said March. “He took Gateshead up when they had an unfashionable team and he knows how to get a team fired up and playing as a team. He’s had two good victories at York (since becoming head coach), although Sunday will be his biggest test.”

Woods’ instalment as Knights boss came after James Ratcliffe was sacked. Ratcliffe had first joined York as March’s assistant-coach ahead of the 2008 campaign.

March said: “I think when Dave Woods joined York (as director of rugby in April) it was just a matter of time before they got rid of James. When they did, everyone knew they had a couple of easy fixtures before they played us and, if James was in charge, he would have made it four (league) wins on the trot and it would’ve been hard to sack him.

“But people move on. I moved on and I’m doing well where I am, and hopefully James will get somewhere and do the same.”

Woods confirmed both Waller and Allan would return for York on Sunday if they came through training last night with no ill-effects.

Both have been out with shoulder injuries, big prop Waller since the win at London Skolars on June 12, and Allan since being hurt on his debut at Keighley the week earlier.

The Press revealed earlier this week that Lee Waterman would miss a month through injury, and Allan could be a straight swap at centre.

As reported, playmaker Chris Thorman will also make a timely return, although cult hero Dennis Tuffour will not be allowed to resume his loan at York, despite not being named in Hull’s 19-man squad for their Super League game. Due to injuries, his parent club controversially want him to play for their under-20s.

Woods confirmed: “Brett and Danny came through full contact training this week and if they are okay after last night’s session they will play.”

He added: “Dennis won’t get anything out of playing for Hull’s U20s but they’re his employers so he has to do what they say.”

The Knights reserves host Barrow tomorrow at Heworth ARLC’s Elmpark Way ground (3pm). A squad was being decided today.