HEAD coach Dave Woods has told his York City Knights charges they must stick together ahead of tonight’s televised showdown at Mount Pleasant (7.30pm).

Perennial overachievers Batley would move to within one point of top spot in the Co-operative Championship if they rack up a sixth win in nine league games.

The Knights, conversely, are looking over their shoulders at the drop zone, and Woods – having made several changes following Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Barrow – says the squad must show more fight if they are to take anything from the Bulldogs’ infamous sloping pitch in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Some of those changes will be at prop as big Brett Waller is omitted while Nathan Freer faces a late test having played at Barrow despite suffering effects of concussion in the Challenge Cup tie against Hull KR.

Freer did not make his injury known at the weekend and proceeded to give an under-par display, and Woods, having criticised Ben Jones for doing likewise earlier in the season, stressed all the players had to be team men.

Asked if Freer had been reprimanded, Woods, inset, said: “It’s not just him. We’re one group and we all need to stick together. We’ve got to do what’s best for the team.

“If blokes aren’t right, they need to be saying something. Nathan didn’t play as well as he can – I’m thinking it’s a bad performance, but if it’s because he’s not feeling well it’s different. It comes back to haunt the blokes team-wise.

“Batley will be a tough place to play and we need to back each other up and be there for each other tonight.”

Waller, also under-par on Saturday, has a hamstring niggle so moves aside, with Woods set to throw back-rower Ryan Esders into the front row and give former York Acorn ARLC prop Davey Burns a rare first-team run-out off the bench.

Of Esders, Woods said: “He’s probably our most aggressive player and I think we need a bit of that up front. Our big men are not overly aggressive by nature. He might also get his hands on the ball a bit more than out wide.”

Of Burns, he added: “He’s been good in the reserves and while he admits himself he finds it hard to step up to this level – the Championship is a tough level to play at – hopefully with a few more runs he will be better for it. He deserves a shot and I’m sure he’ll go well if we put him in there.”

Dan Wilson also comes back onto the wing, while Rhys Clarke and utility ace Mark Barlow are set to start in the second row – the latter against his former club.

The omission of Lee Waterman, coupled with Chris Thorman’s groin problem which prevents him kicking off a tee, means Tom Bush is set to be entrusted with the goalkicking, with Clarke and Esders as back-up.

Duane Straugheir switches back to centre, while Matt Garside will have to fight it out with James Haynes, Paul Stamp and Burns for a place alongside Jack Stearman on the bench, assuming Freer is sidelined.

Wilson had previously been left out to accommodate Waterman’s shooting boots, but Woods said: “He was unlucky when he lost his spot.

“We’ve probably been expecting a bit too much of Lee in the centres at this level and, while he wasn’t going bad on the wing, Dan’s been excellent in the reserves. His talk is really good and that can be invaluable.”

Woods’ only other trip to Mount Pleasant came in 2005 when he led Castleford to the title. He reckons playing down the slope in the second half could prove important.

“We (Cas) scored 50 points going up the hill in the second half but we had a very good team and were full-time, which helps,” he said. “We know it will be a tough place to play.”

Hooker George Flanagan (knee) is out but ex-York prop Sean Hesketh returns after a one-match ban to a Batley side who have had 11 days off since their impressive Challenge Cup show in defeat to Huddersfield.

Former Knights Wayne Reittie and Dave Tootill could also feature.

Batley (possible): Preece, Reittie, Walton, Maun, Brown, Handforth, Mennell, Hesketh, Lythe, Potter, Manning, Bretherton, Lindsay. Subs: Smith, Buttery, Robinson, Tootill.

Knights (possible): Bush, Sutton, Ford, Straugheir, Wilson, Presley, Thackeray, Benson, Lee, Esders, Clarke, Barlow, Thorman. Subs: from Stearman, Burns, Garside, Stamp, Haynes, Freer.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).