YORK CITY manager Terry Dolan stressed the importance of getting off to flier against Rushden tomorrow.

He insisted the leadership qualities of City's new skipper Chris Brass were equally vital.

"Everybody wants to get off to a good start. If you get off to a bad start as we did last season we all know the consequences," said Dolan.

"We have got a good leader now in Chris Brass and the rest of the players are following in his footsteps, but whichever game you play it's XI v XI.

"We talked about the areas we need to improve and one is to score more goals, but we also need to be a team who is difficult to beat."

Of tomorrow's history-making opponents Dolan added: "It's a good game to start with and the players are very determined.

"I've seen Rushden twice in the last two weeks and I know quite a lot of their players.

"Some of the players have got League experience and some don't, but even those that don't, I don't think it will be much of a problem for them because the gap between the Conference and the Third Division is not that great now."

Trialist Aidan O'Kane has been ruled out of the season's big opener. Discussions between City and Irish club Cliftonville, who have held the player's registration until today, are ongoing.

"We are still talking to Cliftonville but things are not likely to be sorted out by Saturday," Dolan told the Evening Press.

"He won't be in the squad for the match against Rushden but things should be sorted out for the Torquay game the following week."

Updated: 11:48 Friday, August 10, 2001