HEAD coach Leigh Paul-Rientoul is optimistic York Acorn ARLC’s firepower can shoot down the RAF and send his side into the second round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

Acorn kick off their 2017 season with a first-round tie against the armed service outfit down in Cranwell, Lincolnshire, on Saturday (1.30pm).

He admits being unsure what to expect but is confident his National Conference League club will be able to weather an expected early onslaught before running up the points as the game goes on.

A recent training run against pro neighbours York City Knights - in a copycat session to the one 12 months ago which helped the Blue and Golds reach the prized third round of the cup - gave him added belief.

“Wath Brow (NCL premier division club) beat them in the first round last year 24-6 and we all know what Wath Brow are capable of,” said Paul-Rientoul.

“We don’t really know what we’re going to get and which players they’ll have available, but they will have some strong players and we expect them to come at us hard and tough for the opening 20 or 30 minutes.

“They will be fit and strong but sometimes skill levels let them down and they can tail off a bit.

“If we can fight it out over that first half-hour, our players will hopefully come into their own and rack up some points.”

The game takes place a month and half before Acorn’s NCL campaign begins, handing the RAF an advantage, but Paul-Rientoul added: “We went up against the Knights in a training run behind closed doors on Sunday and we looked pretty good in attack.

“As expected they ran us a bit ragged in defence but that’s no surprise against a professional team. We were happy with how it went and it gave us a few things we need to work on.”

He added: “We’ve been putting together some good training sessions and numbers have been great. It will be difficult to select at 17 for Saturday but that’s a coach’s dream.

“As things stand, if players come up with excuses not to make training it can be a case of ‘tough luck, someone else can play then’. Last year I didn’t have that luxury.”

Paul-Rientoul has lost player of the year Joe Porter after he joined the Knights on trial but has welcomed back into this year’s squad the experienced Davey Burns.

The former amateur international prop was restricted last season due to work commitments on Saturdays but an upcoming new job will free him up this year. Paul-Rientoul was hoping that would start as early as this weekend.

“He had to work every other Saturday last year and in the end it was hard juggling the rugby around the job, but he’s finishing off the old job now,” he said.

“Having lost Joe Porter, getting a forward back of Davey’s quality is great. You get experience with him and he brings that little bit of oomph. Something we lacked at times last year was aggression and he’s got bags of that.”

Jordan Potter is also back this season after his major knee operation last year, although he is unlikely to be risked on Saturday after feeling that knee a little after the run against the Knights.

Meanwhile, Paul-Rientoul is hoping the new improved links with the Knights can continue.

“Hopefully we can come together more and make it a bit more regular,” said the Blue and Golds boss, who was also a guest of Knights owner Jon Flatman at the recent friendly against Featherstone Rovers.

“Jon invited me over for that last game and in the second half I sat in the stands (in the directors’ box) with him. We had a good chat and he was asking how we ran things at our club.

“He’s invited me to their games and James Ford (head coach) has invited me to video sessions and other bits and pieces. It’s been good - they’re giving me as much back as we’re giving them.”