JAMES RATCLIFFE reckons his York City Knights side do not have a point to prove against Keighley tomorrow – either individually or as a team.

The Knights go to Cougar Park for the first time since losing their Championship One play-off semi-final there at the end of last season, after which Keighley went on to win promotion.

Tomorrow, the Knights return to the scene of that controversial defeat with a place in the Northern Rail Cup semi-finals at stake. But Ratcliffe reckons his side can travel as big underdogs without pressure – and without any thoughts of exacting revenge.

That applies in particular to Danny Ratcliffe, who was left with a broken nose and disclocated jaw after an off-the-ball altercation with Daley Williams. The Keighley centre was given a two-match ban and later threatened with potential legal action – though that has yet come to nothing.

Head coach Ratcliffe said: “Danny’s got no hangovers from it. The fans and press might want to build it up and talk about that match, but we’ve got practically a new team.

“I don’t think we played particularly well that day and Keighley played very well. But this week we’re just looking to get a performance rather than a result. If we come up with a good performance, we won’t be far off getting a result.

“There’s no pressure. It’s a great challenge and we’re excited by that challenge. It would be great to get through to the semi-finals. It would be a great confidence boost for the players. But our expectations are for a performance, not a result.”

The Knights’ underdog status was strengthened by injury and illness currently sweeping through the camp – including to Ratcliffe the player, who made a successful switch from full-back to half-back for last week’s shock win over previously unbeaten Blackpool.

He has been ill this week and, although he trained on Thursday, he was one of only 13 players to get on the field that night, with only seven having trained on Tuesday. Director of rugby Dave Woods has also been off ill.

As reported by The Press, Jordan Ross is awaiting a scan on his knee, although it is hoped he has not suffered a bad ligament injury as first feared.

He has joined Steve Lewis (hamstring), Richard Blakeway (knee) and Chris Clough (suspended) as second-rows on the sidelines, meaning Mike Embleton could make his bow just days after joining from York Acorn ARLC.

He played an hour of the reserves’ loss to Leigh on Thursday night and is set for a straight fight with fellow Acorn recruit Davey Burns, who was 18th man last week, and teenager Joe Dey for a place in tomorrow’s 17.

Prop Nathan Freer is ruled out by the facial injury suffered against Blackpool, but in comes big new signing Danny Allan, who has joined on loan from Featherstone and could fill a number of roles.

Otherwise it will be the same side as that which beat the Panthers, assuming second-row Matt Duckworth comes through his ‘head test’ which is required following an injury suffered in an accidental collision last week.

Ratcliffe, though, admitted some of them would be playing through the pain barrier.

“There will be a few playing with knocks as well as a few not playing because of knocks,” he said. “We haven’t had the best week at training (due to injuries) but it’s one of those things.”

Keighley also go into the game on the back of a shock victory, having beaten Sheffield 25-24 live on Sky.

They will again be without Greg Nicholson (rib), while Tom Sheldrake, like Duckworth, faces a ‘head test’. On loan York hooker Luke Helliwell is ineligible.

Head coach Barry Eaton said: “We’re expecting a tough game but we’re confident.

“We showed great mental strength to win at Sheffield and we hope to take the confidence gained from it into the York match.”

Eaton added: “York seem to have had an up and down season so far but they got a good win against Blackpool last weekend and will no doubt be looking to get some revenge after last year.”

Knights: from Wilson, Tuffour, Lineham, Waterman, Mitchell, Thorman, Ratcliffe, Lee, C Williams, Fallon, Benson, Stearman, Waller, Allan, Burns, Embleton, Duckworth, Hardbottle, Dey.

Keighley: from Moss, Duffy, Sheldrake, Williams, Hutchinson, Presley, Jones, Law, Feather, Benjafield, Baines, Pursglove, Cartledge, Wray, Hughes, Rawlins, Shekell.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).

• Blackpool prop Andy Hobson is to be hauled before the Rugby Football League disciplinary chiefs after allegations he hit York’s Nathan Freer with an elbow/ forearm off the ball in the last minute of last week’s game, leaving the forward needing 11 stitches around an eye and facing a spell on the sidelines.

Hobson actually faces two charges, the other being an allegation of tripping Luke Hardbottle in the first minute. He had no charge to answer regarding a third incident – an alleged 40th-minute headbutt – in the same game.

Team-mate Paul Anderson, sin-binned in the same game after an alleged grapple tackle, will not face disciplinary chiefs, with no charge to answer being their verdict.