CHRIS SPURR played in the last York City Knights team to beat Barrow - now he wants the current crop to find inspiration from adversity as they look to end a 10-year hoodoo since then.

The new-look Knights are massive underdogs for their Kingstone Press League One opener at Craven Park tomorrow (6.30pm) against a big-spending Raiders side who begin term as one of the favourites for promotion alongside moneybags newcomers Toronto.

The omens aren't great either for James Ford's men as his club have not beaten the Cumbrians in 10 consecutive meetings, a run stretching back to July 2007.

But assistant-coach Spurr - who starred at centre in that 14-4 victory at Huntington Stadium a decade ago - thinks past match-ups should provide only motivation for the sizeable task at hand, saying the team can "right a few wrongs" of their predecessors.

"I played in that game. It was the year we finished in mid-table in the old National League Two - we didn't do particularly well that season," said Spurr of York's last win over Barrow. Their last at Craven Park was even longer ago, back in May 2004.

"No York team have beaten them at their place for a while and being the first to do that can inspire the guys," he added.

"We're aware of it (the bad record). It will be nice to go up there and put right a few wrongs."

Asked if the jinx was a concern for the players, Spurr said: "Nobody really worries about 'bogey team' tags - you turn up and play who's in front of you.

"As players you don't think about anything more than playing the game, so they won't have anything like that hanging over their heads."

Veteran Tim Spears has already said tomorrow's game is one of the toughest they could have kicked the campaign off with - wondering if many of York's youngsters had even been to west Cumbria before.

Asked if such a test would have been preferable later in the season, Spurr said: "We have to go up there at some point; it doesn't make any difference when we go.

"It's a tough ask for us. But we've trained well and we'll go full of confidence and enthusiasm.

"We're playing one of the top sides in the division, who have spent a lot of money and have some (former) Super League players in there like Ollie Wilkes and Martin Aspinwall.

"We're preparing for a tough battle and we'll have to have enthusiasm and keep going for the full 80.

"I've no doubt we can put in a performance and if we do that the result will look after itself."

On their improvement as a group, he said: "From where we started at the beginning of pre-season to where we are now, we've come a long way. We have a long way still to go, though.

"We've a young team so there will be ups and downs. We have a number of inexperienced players, in key positions as well, who are adapting to this level.

"We played good stuff in patches last weekend (in the Challenge Cup win over amateurs Egremont) but we know the real test starts now.

"We go to Barrow as massive underdogs if I'm honest, with what they're spending and the players they have.

"But we're hoping to produce a performance and give a good account of ourselves.

"There's not a massive amount of pressure on us from outside the group to win the game, but we believe we can go up there and perform well. If we do that then there's every chance."

* THE Knights will run a supporters' bus to tomorrow's match.

The club have arranged a deal with official travel partners York Pullman to offer fans a special rate of £20 for a seat, or only £2 for under-16s accompanied by an adult.

The executive 49-seater coach will pick up from Jockey Lane at 1.30pm, Clarence Street at 1.40pm, Reel Cinema (formerly the Odeon) in Blossom Street at 1.50pm, and the Ainsty pub on Boroughbridge Road at 2pm. The match kicks off at 6.30pm.

Fans are asked to book their place by phoning Anne at York Pullman on 01904 622992 from 8.30am to 5pm today or via the on-call phone service for last-minute bookings tomorrow.