YORK City Knights have been struck by rotten luck on the eve of the new season - after head coach James Ford revealed a virus has swept through the camp.

The Knights kick off the Betfred League One campaign with a potential cracker against odds-on title favourites Bradford Bulls at Bootham Crescent on Sunday (3pm). The fixture has caught the public's imagination so much that the Popular Stand is to be opened for the first time for a Knights game, in addition to the Main Stand and David Longhurst Stand.

But Ford says preparations have been hit by illness this week, meaning he will have to leave it late before confirming his line-up.

He would not say which players, or how many, have been laid low. But he did call on home supporters - in potentially a record Knights crowd, bolstered by a likely 1,500 from Bradford - to ramp up the noise on the terraces and act as the team's 18th man,

"We're having to delay confirming the team selection," he told The Press. "There's been a bit of a virus in the camp which has disrupted our preparations.

"It probably further enhances Bradford's status as favourites but we're not going to use it as an excuse. We will still field a strong team.

"We've faced adversity before. It's certainly not ideal but these things happen in sport. It's another challenge but I'm sure the 17 we put out there will go out and do themselves and the supporters proud."

He added: "It probably enhances the role the supporters can play for us, getting behind the boys and helping them find extra energy when it's needed."

Bradford, former Super League and World Club champions who have fallen from grace in recent years after off-field issues, have been installed as 4-9 favourites to win League One under new boss John Kear as they look to climb back up the tiers.

Ford agreed his troops were big underdogs but were relishing the challenge - notwithstanding any illness.

"If you read anything that's being written in the rugby league media, Bradford Bulls are absolutely nailed-on favourites for the league," he reasoned.

"Some of the squad are full-time, a lot of the squad have played at a very high level, and they have a really high-profile coach in John Kear who's had a fantastic coaching career.

"It would be foolish to say we're not big underdogs.

"But we're looking at it as a fantastic challenge, and we're excited by it. We will have our hands full for sure, and obviously having our preparations disrupted this way has not helped.

"But we're confident the people of York will turn out in numbers and get behind this team like they have done over the last couple of years.

"Hopefully they will be our 18th man and help us to find energy when we need it."

He added: "I think we're quite used to being underdogs. We've got used to it over the last few years. We've had adversity and it's pulled us together as a club. It's made us stronger and it's made me stronger.

"We're looking forward to it."