TWO of the young guns released by York City Knights will make their bows for York Acorn ARLC this weekend.

Former Heworth juniors Elliot Bulmer and Jordan Potter will play for Acorn's high-flying 'A' team as they visit Beverley in the Yorkshire Men's League division one.

The pair were snapped up by their home-town club after being released last year by Hull KR and Featherstone respectively, but were among those who had to be let go last month when the homeless Knights' reserves set-up folded due to cost-cutting amid the community stadium saga, having played very little competitive rugby.

They are being earmarked for the Blue and Golds' first team in the long-run, but must wait for their chance, with Scott Rhodes' men having a blank weekend in the National Conference League.

Head coach Rhodes, who reckons the free week has come at a good time after back-to-back defeats left his side fifth in division one, believes the pair could prove to be good additions.

"They are itching for a game after what happened at York," he said. "They've been down and have looked impressive in training.

"They will play this Saturday for the 'A' team, as will a couple of first-teamers."

Among those are Nick Speck, who missed last week's loss at Elland and needs game-time after a stop-start period, and forward Martin McTigue.

Of the first-team's blank weekend, Rhodes said: "It's come at a good time. A few of the lads are going to York Races and a few are away on a stag do.

"Hopefully we'll recharge batteries because we've got a tough run of four games coming up against Ince Rose Bridge, Shaw Cross, Myton and Normanton."

Bridge and Normanton occupy the top two places while Shaw Cross and Myton are in the play-off race with Acorn.

"Realistically if we want to be up there we have to win three of the four," added Rhodes. "It will be a difficult time.

"We obviously need to be better than last week, which was disappointing.

"We got bullied by a more aggressive pack and there was no tempo to our game. I hope it's a one-off. I've certainly seen us play a lot better."

He quipped: "We just weren't at the races - though some of them will be this Saturday."

Heworth, go to Elland 'A' in YML division two.

York Lokomotive have no game in division three.