YORK City Knights expect an almighty battle with Barrow Raiders next Sunday when they clash in the National League Two elimination play-off at Huntington Stadium.

The Raiders have been confirmed as the Knights' opponents in the first play-off match - a straight knockout - after they won at Swinton yesterday to finish fifth in the table above Hunslet. York had beaten the Hawks on Friday to finish fourth.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "It's like having a baby - you take what you're given. We've beaten Barrow twice, just as we've beaten Hunslet twice, but that will count for nothing on Sunday.

"They will come to the game believing they can win and we're expecting a tough contest."

Sheffield confirmed their status as Minor Premiers with a 56-11 defeat of Workington to finish above Chorley, 38-12 winners at London Skolars, on points difference. The top two will clash in two weeks for a place in the Grand Final.

Keighley finished in third, also on points difference after they scraped past Gateshead, and will now entertain Hunslet in the other elimination play-off.

The crowd of 1,642 on Friday night - York's second-highest of the league campaign - took the Knights' aggregate attendance in the league past the five-figure mark to 11,314, at an average of 1,257 in the nine games. It is by far the highest average in the division.

Next Sunday's match will be the last at Huntington Stadium this season, as the winners of the game will be away in the following play-off clashes, and the Knights are expecting a big crowd.

Ferres said: "It was a tremendous performance not only from the players but also the supporters. "We budgeted for crowds much smaller than what we've had, but I believe the crowd potential is big at York and that's one of the reasons I'm here.

"We've just started and there's a long way to go."

He added: "I would anticipate more of the same on Sunday.

"All we can do is ask them to come in their numbers to get behind the boys like they have done all season. It's our biggest game of the year, we've got a side depleted by injuries but they've proved they will battle to the end."

Updated: 11:14 Monday, September 08, 2003