York City Knights are hoping their first pre-season friendly will still go ahead despite the cold weather.

There will be a pitch inspection at 1100 GMT before the match against York Select on Sunday.

Coach James Ratcliffe told BBC Radio York: "It's our first hit out and it's good to have a game over Christmas.

"It gives everybody the chance to get out of the house and do something different so hopefully it's still going to be on."

Ratcliffe said the snow and freezing conditions had affected their training schedule.

We've not been able to train at all this week so in theory we've only had the ball in our hands once as a group of people James Ratcliffe, York City Knights coach

"It's been a massive problem," he said.

"We've not been able to train at all this week so in theory we've only had the ball in our hands once as a group of people.

"That was all going to come this week. But the Select are going to be in exactly the same position as well."

The Knights are looking at using a squad of around 20 players for the game.

"We've got a couple of little injuries which we knew about when we signed players on, so we won't be rushing them back in but they might get used in the back end of the friendlies," said Ratcliffe.

He is using the pre-season warm-ups to try out a number of players in the role of captain. Full-back Danny Ratcliffe will take the armband for the York Select match.

"Danny's put his hand up to be captain. He'll be given the opportunity to see how he flourishes in that position this week when we do play them," he said.

"He won't be on his own, there'll be other people on that field that we'll be looking at.

"It's a good accolade for him and he's really pleased with it."

The game is due to kick off at 1500 GMT.

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