BOSS James Ford reckons the fact York City Knights were selected as the opponents for rugby league’s Magic Weekend curtain-raiser is another indicator of the club’s “enormous” potential.

Tomorrow’s Kingstone Press League One encounter at Newcastle Thunder (8pm) kicks off the annual festival of Super League rugby, which for the first time is being staged at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park, on Saturday and Sunday.

Thunder, who switched from Gateshead this year following the takeover by rugby union club Newcastle Falcons, are hoping for their biggest attendance since the former incarnation’s Super League season back in 1999, given the number of rugby league fans who are set to converge on the North East plus the publicity the event is receiving on Tyneside.

And Ford reckons his team can not only win over the neutrals with their free-flowing style but also showcase League One rugby.

“It’s probably significant that we’re the team who’ll be playing this game,” he said.

“We, along with Newcastle, are representing League One and we’re going to attack and entertain and show what we’re about.

“The more people that turn out the better it is for rugby league and the better it is for us. We’re a good team and we like to attack.

“If there are many neutrals at the game, I don’t think it will take us long to win them over with the style of rugby we play.”

In the past, York have featured in London Skolars’ annual Friday Night Lights match on the eve of the Challenge Cup final at Wembley when rugby league fans converge on the capital.

They were at that time one of the best-supported teams outside of the top tier and, while their crowd figures have dropped off, not helped by the recent off-field issues that have left them currently homeless, Ford was convinced the club can get back on the up and up.

“The potential at the club is enormous, we all know that,” said Ford. “As we move closer to finding a solution to the off-field situation we move closer to the club starting to fulfil that potential.”

Magic Weekend, which in the past has been staged at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, sees a full programme of top-flight matches played on the same pitch over two days.

Ford - who himself scored during Magic Weekend in 2009 when his Castleford side lost to Hull - believes it has proven to be a great concept.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s great for the game. Anything that increases exposure for rugby league is good.

“This is going to be the most popular Magic Weekend yet, so I’ve been hearing, and the more people that support it the better.”

More than 60,000 tickets have been sold for the St James’ Park jamboree, with more than 20 per cent being bought by locals.

Some are also expected at Kingston Park tomorrow night for the York match, when Thunder players will wear special shirts bearing the name of St James’ Park legends such as Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne in an effort to draw in extra football fans.

Ford added: “Rugby league is an outstanding sport and an outstanding spectacle and the more people from outside the game’s heartlands that see it and understand what it’s about the more publicity and profile it will get.

“The product on the field is very good and when the Geordie locals see what the game’s about at first hand I’m sure they will enjoy it.”

More than 40,000 are due to attend Saturday’s action alone, which culminates with Leeds Rhinos versus Wigan.

Leeds skipper Kevin Sinfield said: “Sometimes in life you have to take a risk, and people might say that bringing Super League up here was a bit of a punt.

“Well it is one that has worked, judging by the ticket sales, and it is a great place to be.

“I have always wanted to play at St James’ Park, so I was delighted when I heard it was happening.”