CONFIDENCE is coursing through York Acorn head coach Scott Rhodes' veins ahead of the visit of promotion chasing Normanton Knights in National Conference League division one on Saturday.

The Blue and Golds, looking to recover from an agonising 17-16 reverse at Myton Warriors last weekend, have turned their Thanet Road ground into a fortress - suffering only one defeat on home ground all season.

With a host of players set to return to his squad, including the likes of Davey Burns, Adam Endersby and Matthew Woods, Rhodes sounded a rallying cry and said he goes into the game full of expectation.

"They are a big physical outfit who are really experienced," he said. "We know all about Richard Blakeway up front and they have Steve Lewis at centre, who played at York.

"They are a good side but I go into this game really confident. I have spoken to the players and told them they should be really confident as well. We have beaten all the top sides at home. We have beaten Kells so it is there for us.

"I know how good we are when we are at home and on top of our game. We can beat anyone in the league. I am always full of confidence, especially at home, and I am looking forward to the game."

On their narrow Myton loss, Rhodes added: "They are a very good team and I thought we defended really well against them.

"We had our chances. We just bombed too many. We were held up five or six times and we could have won by 12 to 16 points. It just wasn't meant to be."

Rhodes will be without front-rower Josh Mortimer, who has pulled a hamstring.

York Acorn 'A', who squeezed past Bentley last time out to keep up the pressure on Mirfield Stags at the top of Yorkshire Mens League division one, travel to Milford Marlins 'A' while, in division two, Heworth host Bradford Dudley Hill 'A' at Elmpark Way.

York Lokomotive travel to Stanningley 'A' in division three.