YORK Acorn ARLC boss Leigh Paul-Rientoul is not demanding an immediate return to amateur rugby league’s elite tier – but he isn’t ruling it out either.

The Blue and Golds were relegated from the National Conference League premier division last year just 12 months after going up in thrilling fashion via the division one play-offs.

Paul-Rientoul has often said the team probably weren’t ready for the top flight, though, and he is hoping they will be better prepared next time should success come calling again.

“We don’t want to set our targets too high but we have sat down and discussed things and our main aim is get into the play-offs,” he said - while busy upgrading the changing rooms at Thanet Road in time for this weekend’s opening clash.

“But, if we are going to go up, we want to go up better than the previous year when we finished fifth and won the play-off final. I’ve said before, that’s a mid-table division one team going up and it was always going to be hard in the premier.”

Acorn kick off the 2017 division one campaign on Saturday at home to Lock Lane (2.30pm), a side who went down with them from the top tier.

The Castleford-based club have seemingly lost a few old campaigners – including star man Chris Siddons to York City Knights – so are now an unknown quantity.

The top two go up automatically, with the next four going into the play-offs, and Paul-Rientoul reckons Hunslet Parkside, Underbank Rangers, who have risen through the tiers, and Featherstone Lions, who lost in the play-offs last term, will be among the favourites.

His own men got a taste of what it will take to win promotion when losing 18-4 at Myton in the Challenge Cup third round last month – a side who went up last year.

“We need to start the season well,” said the head coach, who is now assisted by ex-boss Dave Kay.

“Last year we were ‘played eight lost eight’ and we need to be solid from the off this time, keeping everything tight and simple.

“Dave is making things a lot easier, giving me chance to speak to players one-to-one and have a look at things rather than be in the middle of 40 blokes running riot in training.

“That’s massively helped in the last two weeks and the lads have bought into Dave coming on board.”

Acorn have Jordan Potter back this season after major knee surgery last year, while veteran prop Davey Burns will also be available again - a boost for the club in the wake of Player of the Year Joe Porter’s switch into the pro arena with York City Knights.

They also have former junior Matty Downes on the books, and he is in contention to make his debut on Saturday. The teenager, a back-rower or threequarter, was in Bradford Bulls’ academy last year and had a trial with the Knights in pre-season. Said Paul-Rientoul: “He has size and strength that you don’t really see in a kid his age.”

Downes could feature out on the wing with Jack Stewart set to miss the first month of term after an operation. Packman Jack Byrnes is also doubtful this weekend due to family commitments.

Meanwhile, Acorn ‘A’ host Batley Boys in the Yorkshire Men’s League group section (2pm), while neighbours Heworth entertain Bentley and New Earswick All Blacks go to Featherstone Lions ‘A’.