YORK ACORN ARLC chief Scott Rhodes said his side had the home tie "they had hoped for" after they were drawn at Thanet Road against Sharlston Rovers in the first round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

The Blue & Golds are set to get their season under way with a game head coach Rhodes knows will be a tough encounter.

The two sides are not strangers, Rovers beating York's 'A' team last season, and Rhodes believes their rivals in Rugby League's most prestigious cup competition are a "good up and coming team".

Acorn only got back into pre-season training earlier this week and may manage just a handful of sessions before the summer outfit have to go into battle for the first time.

It has led Rhodes to wonder whether the game might come "a bit too quick" for his emerging outfit, who are about to restart life in the National Conference League premier division after beating Normanton Knights in the division one play-off final at the end of last season.

But he says it is a game the club will look forward to and can, if nothing else, act as a good hit-out in preparation for the start of the new season.

“We’re going to go out and do our best with the game acting as good build up to the league," Rhodes said. "It’s going to be a great challenge for our young team."

The last time Acorn were in the amateur game's top flight, two years ago, they began by losing their first nine matches and the Blue & Golds' boss in under no illusions about the size of the task his squad will face over the campaign.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge” Rhodes added. “It’s not always good getting promoted through the play-offs as it’s a big step up. The obvious goal is to stay up but we’re just going to have to take every game as it comes.”

Rhodes went on to stress the importance of performing at home, mindful that his men were inconsistent on their travels last term.

He said: “For next season the home games will be extra important and we want to be up to speed as best we can."

Acorn will take up the mantle with many familiar faces returning from his play-off winning side and Rhodes said: "We had about 40 to 45 players in training this week with an average age of about 22. It’s mostly the same squad with plenty of youth involved.

“We will also see some Under-18s get promoted to the first side as the development of young players is what this club is all about.”