YORK City Knights boss James Ford has hailed a blockbuster start to the 2019 Championship season after it was revealed they will kick off at home to the star-studded Toronto Wolfpack.

Moreover in another fixture boost, the Knights’ first opponents at the Community Stadium when it opens in July will be big new rivals Bradford Bulls - with club chiefs reportedly setting a target of an 8,000 sell-out.

The Knights had a club record crowd of 4,281 for their 2018 League One opener against Bradford, with both teams going on to win promotion, York as champions. Another big crowd can be expected for the 2019 starter, with the match bringing back memories of the Knights’ stunning victory over the Canadian full-timers in 2017.

Huge underdogs that day, Ford reckons his team will be "more underdog than underdogs" this time against an even more powerful Wolfpack - but he is relishing the task ahead.

“It’s a very exciting fixture list," said Ford of the 2019 calendar, which kicks off on Sunday, February 3.

For the full fixture list, click here https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/17254938.york-city-knights-2019-championship-season-fixture-list-in-full/

“It's set up to be an exciting season, and I don’t think we could have wished for a more high-profile opener than welcoming Toronto, with their playing roster and with Brian McDermott as head coach, to Bootham Crescent.

“The club have a great track record at promoting games of this magnitude, and the York supporters have a great track record at getting behind us.

“In big games my teams generally turn up too. We’re excited for this one. It will be an enormous challenge – they’ve got some exciting players and Brian McDermott’s track record speaks volumes – but we’re exciting by that challenge."

Toronto, runaway 2017 League One winners, topped the Championship last year and finished fourth in the Qualifiers but lost the Million Pound Game 4-2 to London Broncos so missed out on Super League.

They duly replaced boss Paul Rowley with former Leeds Rhinos chief McDermott earlier this month, and have added Samoan international Ricky Leutele, who helped Cronulla Sharks beat Melbourne Storm in the 2016 NRL Grand Final, and St Helens legend Jon Wilkin to an already formidable roster.

Asked if the Wolfpack were title favourites, Ford said: “I'd go further than that. They’ve probably got the best squad and the best coaching set-up – with Brian Noble and Kurt Haggerty in there as well – that there has ever been outside of Super League.

“Put all those ingredients together, it really excites us. We’re aware it will be a huge ask but it’s one we’re looking forward to.

“Is there a saying for someone who’s more of an underdog than an underdog?

“But odds don't matter to me. We will focus on our performance, working hard and the little ‘one per cent’ things that we’re trying to instil.

“We'll go into it confident but with a lot of respect knowing it will be a huge challenge.”

In eight years in charge at Leeds, former Great Britain forward McDermott won four Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and the 2012 World Club Challenge.

“I think it’s a good move by Toronto," said Ford of the 48-year-old's appointment. "Brian McDermott is a man of integrity and he did a remarkable job at Leeds – people forget how many big games he won there.

"I’m sure he’s the right person to help Toronto win promotion to Super League and establish themselves at that level.”

York's Community Stadium, to be shared with York City, is scheduled to open in July.

The Knights' first game there is on Saturday, July 20 - against Bradford, whom they pipped to the League One title in stunning style this year. A Rugby Football League press release says there is already an "ambitious target of opening up with an 8,000 sell-out".

“It’s a really positive coincidence," said Ford of hosting the Bulls on such a big day.

"There’s a real rivalry now between us. The games between us have been classics and there’s no reason to think this won’t be the same.

“Bradford are immensely well-supported and I know York fans will want to be there, and a fair few neutrals will fancy it as well.

“I'd suggest booking seats early. It wouldn’t surprise me if the place will be at near capacity.

“It will be a great game and the club will do a good job at making it a real positive occasion.”

The Championship has increased to 14 teams, with the Super 8s scrapped and one promotion place to Super League now available, to be decided via top-five play-offs. Two go down to League One.

In addition to 26 home-and-away fixtures is the Summer Bash round in Blackpool - the Championship's equivalent of Super League's Magic Weekend. York will face Featherstone there on Saturday, May 18.

Ford, who played for both clubs, said: “I think it underlines the progress York have made, for us to be paired with a club of that calibre. Two years ago there might not have been a York.

“We’ve a lot of respect for Featherstone. They've been an outstanding Championship club, pushing for Super League over a number of years.

“It will be one of the most entertaining games over the weekend, with both teams playing attractive rugby league."

Other fixtures of note are the return trip to Toronto, which comes on August 10, and the tough Easter period, when York go to Featherstone on Good Friday (April 19), then host relegated Widnes on Bank Holiday Monday (April 22), followed by a trip to Toulouse (April 27).

There is also the new 1895 Cup for League One teams and the 12 English Championship clubs. Championship teams enter in round two, to be played midweek around June 4-6.

The full fixture list can be found here https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/17254938.york-city-knights-2019-championship-season-fixture-list-in-full/