Defensive targets will be set for the York City Knights to keep them focused at Gateshead Thunder tomorrow.

The North East club have still to hit a winning note in the current National League Two campaign and are seven points adrift of second-bottom Dewsbury Rams.

But despite their losing record, they have strength going forward and head coach Richard Agar will be urging his side to take as strong a stance as possible in keeping them off the score-board.

He said: "We will be looking for a simple game-plan as we did against Barrow and I will also be looking at setting defensive targets such as conceding as few a points as possible.

"I want us to get our feet in the door early and get a good start.

"There's always a danger that we might see it as too easy - especially if we race into an early lead - but we have won one from the last five games and we know we can't take anything for granted.

"I really admire Gateshead Thunder. Even though they don't get many results, they always front up and give it their best shot."

Looking inside the Knights camp, things are definitely looking up following last week's 30-16 defeat of Barrow, with a fully-fit squad for Agar to select from.

Said Agar: "We had a much-needed confidence boosting victory last weekend and without doubt, it has lifted the mood in the camp.

"I think the new signings so far have fitted in well and done what we wanted them to, which was to lift the levels of enthusiasm."

He continued: "For the first time in a long while, we have got everyone available and for the first time in a long time there's competition for places right across the board and a this stage of the year, that's a good thing for us.

"It is a headache when you look at how well they played last week with the likes of Craig Forsyth, Simon Friend and Lee Jackson all sat out.

"And we now have Chris Spurr to add to that as well."

Spurr put pen to paper last Friday in exchange for assistant coach and full back Nathan Graham but had to wait to make his debut in a Knights shirt until a slight injury had healed.

The fit-again centre could now be included in the line-up tomorrow - and will be hungry to follow the example set by fellow new-boys Dean Andrews and Craig Farrell with a debut try.

Said Agar: "He's an uncompromising player who has been a bit unfortunate this season at Batley with injury and then getting stuck behind Shad Royston and Danny Maun, who are really in form, has limited his appearances this year.

"But he's still scored six tries from 13 appearances so what he does know is how to score a try - as he has proved against us already this season.

"He will add to the competition in the centres with Langley and Callaghan and Aaron Wood too."

Sunday's teams:

York City Knights from: C Smith, Walker, Farrell, Callaghan, Langley, Spurr, Buchanan, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Sozi, Jackson, Elston, Forsyth, Stannard, Briggs, Sullivan, Andrews, Friend, Cain, Ramsden, J Smith, Kama, Wood.

Gateshead Thunder from: Graham Stephenson, Steve Morton, William Massey, Kevin Neighbour, Robin Peers, Paul Thorman, Steve Rutherford, Rob Line, Neil Thorman, Nick Staveley, Clint Brown, Liam Garside, Steve Bradley, Craig Firth, John MacDonald, Mick Jones, Paul Dodsworth.

Updated: 09:53 Saturday, August 07, 2004