YORK City Knights are on track to smash their club record attendance tomorrow for the highly-anticipated Betfred League One opener against Bradford Bulls.

Head coach James Ford has lauded the work behind the scenes to promote the game, for which advance ticket sales have been high enough to warrant opening the Pop Stand for the first time since the rugby league club began sharing York City's football ground.

The Main Stand and David Longhurst Stand will also be open, with pay on the day available.

"If (a new record is set), it shows what remarkable progress the club has made in recent times and I'm proud to have played a part in that," said Ford, regarding the likelihood of breaking the Knights' best for a competitive match set 13 years ago.

"A lot of people deserve so much credit, such as Neil Gulliver in the Knights Foundation. They've played a huge role.

"It's not just Jon Flatman (chairman), Gav Wilson (media manager) and James Ford. People behind the scenes should get the plaudits they deserve. That includes the volunteers who are fundamental to our progress.

"We need to do our bit on the field now and that is to deliver a performance against a formidable Bradford Bulls side who are huge favourites for the game and for the competition.

"Their favourites status is probably enhanced because of our setbacks (the reported virus in the camp), but in adversity lies opportunity, and we're looking forward to the challenge."

The highest home attendance achieved by the Knights for a competitive match since the club re-formed in 2003 stands at 3,224, against Hunslet at their old Huntington Stadium home, in May 2005, in the old National League Two (third tier).

The highest since moving to Bootham Crescent two years ago is 2,601, in the memorable win over League One champions-to-be Toronto Wolfpack last July, although a one-off friendly match at the football ground against Leeds Rhinos back in January 2005 drew 3,509.

The record attendance for a rugby league game at Bootham Crescent will not be broken though. That stands at 11,247 for York versus Leeds in the Challenge Cup in January 1989. The ground's current capacity is 8,256.

York RL's highest-ever attendance, meanwhile, is 14,689 for a Challenge Cup tie against Swinton at the old Clarence Street ground in February 1934.

Their highest at Huntington Stadium was 4,977, for a Division Two match against Halifax in January 1990.

This weekend's attendance is likely to be boosted by an expected 1,500 from fallen giants Bradford.

Ford added: "It's building up to what will be a fantastic day for York, for Bradford and for League One.

"It's a shame we've had a bit of an illness in the camp, but the team has faced bigger adversity in the past and I'm confident in the players that are taking the field."

Bradford-born York Hall of Famer Geoff Pryce and Jim Bone, the former club physio and long-time supporter and sponsor of York rugby league at all levels, will be guests of honour at the match.

Admission is £15 adults, £10 concessions and - like last season - free for under-16s. Turnstiles open at 1.30pm.