YORK City Knights will stage a pre-season friendly double-header against two Super League sides over the same weekend.

They are also set to play another Lee McTigue Memorial match against a York Select XIII, following the success of the inaugural encounter last year.

Club bosses have also announced a special offer deal for fans buying a replica shirt as well as admission to these warm-up matches – in a bid to help cut costs for supporters. This will be part of the 2009 season launch night planned for Thursday, December 4 at Huntington Stadium.

Castleford Tigers will come to York on Friday, January 30 for an 8pm kick off, and Hull KR – including Acomb-based former Knights favourite Peter Fox – visit two days later, on Sunday, February 1 for a 3pm kick off.

The double-header was agreed as this was the only weekend the two Super League clubs had available. Nonetheless it gives the Knights chance to have a look at of all their players, with every first-team squad member likely to get a run-out.

The Press understands Cas are planning to being a predominantly youthful squad albeit with a smattering of first-teamers. Rovers, though, are likely to bring a largely first-team outfit, including England winger Fox.

A provisional date has also been set up for the Lee McTigue match, the game that was staged last year in memory of the former Knights forward and York Acorn and New Earswick amateur, who died of cancer last December, aged 29.

This will be on Sunday, January 18, if agreed by the local amateur clubs who supply the opposition, and could well become a fixture on the York rugby league calendar.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said there was scope for another friendly on the weekend of January 25 though they were happy with the three warm-up games.

The discount deal for fans at the launch night, meanwhile, comprises a new 2009 replica shirt plus admission to all three friendlies for £60 adults, £55 over-65s, £40 under-16s.

Wilson explained: “Three friendlies is expensive for supporters so we hope for those at the launch night that this provides excellent value for money.”

The launch night will also give fans the chance to meet the players.

The Knights, along with all National League clubs, will have squad numbers next season, rather than match-day numbered shirts.

Each player will be given a shirt numbered from one to 25 which they will wear throughout the season. Anybody outside this 25 will wear a shirt numbered from 31 to 36, although if any of these go on to play four or more games they will be given a squad number from 26 to 30, or thereafter 37 and above.

This cuts costs for clubs as it means they keep the same shirt for each player rather than re-number shirts for players of different sizes.