HEAD coach Alfie Hill admits York Acorn ARLC have not got the easiest of starts to the season - but has stressed the importance of beginning well.

The Blue and Golds' Thanet Road pitch is being reseeded so they will have play their first five games of the National Conference division one campaign away from home, starting with a difficult match at relegated Leigh East.

Hill admits it is not the best scenario but has warned his side cannot afford too much away-day blues.

"It makes things more difficult to start with but we'll be taking it one game at a time," he said.

"If you don't get a win or two under your belts then you're playing catch-up and it becomes harder, whether you're at home or not. Losing is a bad habit which is hard to get out of so it's important we get a few results out of these games."

Acorn will have to do so without BARLA prop Adam Endersby, who has gone to Eastmoor Dragons, as well as experienced centre Gareth Lloyd, who is now with Heworth.

Hill added: "They're losses, but lads will step in. Adam in particular had a good season and he's already been man of the match for Eastmoor, but good luck to him as he steps up to the premier division.

"I'll be looking at younger players to replace them from our successful under-18s squad, and we also now have ex-Castleford Panthers full-back/winger Chris Hill."

Acorn enjoyed a fine sixth-place finish in last season's debut campaign in division one, and all things considered, Hill reckons something similar would be a good target.

He explained: "Most teams in division one have strengthened and I'm expecting them to be a bit stronger.

"The teams that have come down, like Leigh East, will also be looking to go straight back up, so it will be a very tough division. If we can achieve what we acheived last season, that would be satisfactory."

He added: "Training's gone pretty well. Over the last few weeks we've had 30-odd players down and we're looking as though we're sharp enough to put up a performance on Saturday."