YORK City Knights coach Mick Cook has admitted this two-week break from league action has come at the wrong time -- but reckons it won't be a problem.

The Knights are on a roll with four consecutive victories, including three in LHF National League Two, the last one being the spectacular thrashing of leaders Dewsbury Rams, which saw Mick Cook's men storm to the top of the table.

But they have no game next week as the National League takes a break for the Northern Rail Cup play-offs, and the following week they are in Powergen Challenge Cup action with the highly-anticipated tie away to holders St Helens on Friday, May 6.

This means their next league game is not until May 15, away to Gateshead Thunder, and so there is a fear that the break and the difficult match against Saints could see the Knights lose momentum.

But Cook said: "It's not a massive problem for us.

"We would probably have liked to play the weekly rounds on a weekly basis but that's how it is. We didn't progress in the Northern Rail Cup and so we have no fixture. But we can compensate that by the type of training we do.

"As long as we get the quality in training we're not going to lose anything. It would be nice to have another league fixture this weekend but it's not to be. I can't envisage it upsetting the apple cart."

The Knights are the only NL2 club to have reached the fifth round of the Cup, with their rivals set for a two-week lay-off before the league action begins again in three weeks.

Said Cook: "Most other teams in our division are in the same boat (regarding the two-week break from the league).

"We know we've been steadily improving and the performances have been getting better, and we can take loads of positives out of the last two games, so I can't see it being a problem."

As for the match at Super League giants Saints, he added: "Whatever the result at St Helens, it's not going to upset anything. We know our bread and butter is the league and we're going to St Helens to have a good time. Hopefully we can play.

"It will be a difficult game but we're going to enjoy it and play a bit and hopefully we can challenge them."

Knights season ticket holders are reminded that the deadline for buying cut-price tickets for the Powergen Challenge Cup tie at St Helens on May is this Friday.

Advance tickets, which bring a £1 saving, can be bought up until Thursday, May 5, the day before the game, but advance tickets for season ticket holders, which bring a £2 saving, will not be sold after this Friday.

The tickets for the Saints tie on sale from the Knights are standing tickets only.

Those wishing to book Main Stand or Family Stand tickets should call St Helens direct on 0870 756 5252.

Phone orders from the Knights are on 01904 758234 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Collection from the Huntington Stadium office is on Thursdays only 5pm to 7pm. Other collection is from the club's Roland Court office Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1pm to 3pm.

Saints Cup prices

Main Stand

(on sale from Saints only)

Adults: £18 season ticket holders (voucher 'C'); £19 advance; £20 match-day.

Concessions: £12 STH; £13 advance; £14 match-day.

Under 16s: £12 STH; £13 advance; £14 match-day.

Family Stand

(on sale from Saints only)

Adults: £13 season ticket holders (voucher 'C'); £14 advance; £15 match-day.

Concessions: Not applicable.

Under-16s: £7 STH; £8 advance; £9 match-day.

Ground

(on sale from the Knights)

Adults: £13 season ticket holders (voucher 'C'); £14 advance; £15 match-day.

Concessions: £7 STH; £8 advance; £9 match-day.

Under-16s: £7 STH; £8 advance; £9 matchday.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, April 26, 2005