FOCUS will be the key for York City Knights this weekend as they finally look to fulfil the dream of promotion.

The Knights go into tomorrow's LHF Healthplan National League One Qualifying Final against Halifax with coach Richard Agar determined to keep the players' minds solely on the job at hand.

For many of the team, this will be the biggest game of their careers on a big televised stage and, while enjoying the occasion is one thing, staying tuned in is more important.

Agar said: "There are a lot more peripheral issues as regards our preparation behind the scenes but we're trying to keep those issues away from the players so their sole focus is on the game.

"We're staying away for the weekend and having a bit more time together, and again it's for the focus, taking all the side issues out of it. We want them to soak up the occasion but keep their focus on what's important."

The match will be televised live on Sky Sports, as will the NL1 Grand Final between Leigh and Whitehaven, which follows.

And Agar said: "A live TV game brings with it different obstacles. Your warm-ups can be cut down, the meeting and greeting eats up time, the big screen decisions lead to more breaks in play, all things that in small ways can affect players' concentration.

"We've done our best to plan the weekend with precision and put the mechanisms in place so the players are ready to cope. For the players, only one thing is important - their performance."

The game will be Agar's last in charge as he heads for Hull FC to be number two to John Kear next season. And while he obviously wants to go out on a high, he says it is more so for the people at the club.

"It's almost 12 months since I started and we've worked hard all year," he said. "I'm not thinking about next year - our goal is getting promotion this year.

"For everyone, the fans, the people who back the club and most certainly the players, we want to finish on a good note - and what better note than winning a Grand Final.

"We know we've got to play well and there are areas in the game that have to be won and there are processes we have to go through to build pressure and execute some points. The team that wins those areas and makes fewer errors will win the game.

"I think we will start as underdogs but I don't think there's too much between the teams."

In Lee Jackson, Chris Smith and Simon Friend, York have three players who know all about winning major finals. Jackson was a Grand Final winner in Australia with Newcastle Knights and a Challenge Cup winner with Leeds, while Smith - who is set to overcome a niggling groin injury to play - won the Super League Grand Final with St Helens. Aussie back-rower Friend won the Premier League Grand Final down under with Canberra Raiders reserves.

Agar, himself a NL1 Grand Final winner with Dewsbury and Widnes, added: "Their experience will be invaluable to us in all aspects this weekend."

Halifax have their own experienced stars, none more so than player-coach Anthony Farrell, and the former Leeds prop received a personal boost 48 hours before the game by signing a one-year extension to his coaching contract

Under Farrell, Halifax have won seven of their last 13 matches, including four from the last five - but he was unable to prevent them finishing second-bottom of NL1 and thus falling into the NL2 play-offs. They now need victory over York to prevent the ignominy of two successive relegations.

They may have to do without prop Ryan MacDonald, who has a minor arm fracture sustained in the qualifying semi-final win over York two weeks ago.

Veteran Leigh stand-off Tommy Martyn may be ruled out of the National League One final against Whitehaven with an arm injury and if so will retire.

Updated: 11:30 Saturday, October 09, 2004