HEAD coach Scott Rhodes is optimistic his York Acorn ARLC side have shrugged off their Challenge Cup downer and can kick off their league campaign on a high.

Acorn, having taken "a good week to get over" their 66-0 hammering by neighbouring pro team York City Knights in their big cup clash at Bootham Crescent 11 days ago, now begin their National Conference League campaign at Lock Lane on Saturday (2.30pm).

It's their first game back in the premier division - amateur rugby league's elite tier - and while Rhodes is aware a tough year awaits, he hopes his side will have quickly learned lessons from their last outing and will be ready for the challenge ahead.

"We'll take one game at a time," said Rhodes when asked if consolidation in the top flight was the aim this term.

"We weren't great against York and I was really disappointed after the game. It was always going to be hard but I think we are 20 or 30 points better than what we served up.

"I'm looking at performances and we have got to be a lot better. I'm sometimes quite tough on them but I'm always looking to be better.

"Our skill level needs to be better, defensively we need to be better on the edges and our discipline has to be better - we can't give teams cheap field position like we did.

"The lads have responded pretty well. It took us a good week to get over that game - me as well - but they trained pretty hard this week and I think the lads are looking forward to putting it right, and I can't ask for more really.

"We've got a team that can win games in this division but we've got to prepare right and perform on the day. If you don't, you get stung because it's a very good league, week in week out. We got a taste last week of how good we need to be. I'm looking for performances - I want to win and I know we can."

While Acorn were losing their Challenge Cup tie, Lock Lane were shocking the Knights' League One rivals, Oxford.

Said Rhodes: "They beat a pro team who went on to have a close game against Newcastle (in their League One opener) last week, so we're expecting a very hard game.

"Going to Castleford is always going to be tough and Lock Lane have got smart half-backs, a decent physical pack and a decent hooker. We know what we're up against, but we know where their dangers lie and we have to come up with a game plan to beat them.

"To get a win at Lock Lane first game up would be great for us."

Rhodes is hopeful full-back Jake Calam will be fit after departing early on against the Knights, though Matt Chilton is on stand-by.

Back-rower Jack Byrnes is out for a while, though, after suffering a broken jaw, Haiden Barber coming in, while Nick Speck makes way for Jimmy Mountford in the pivots.