YORK City Knights star Lee Jackson reckons the Minster city is buzzing with play-off anticipation - and the Knights don't want it to end.

The National League Two knockout series gets underway tomorrow with York facing Barrow Raiders at Huntington Stadium (ko 3pm) and, although the Knights have already surpassed many expectations by reaching the play-offs in their first season, Jackson believes they have every chance of progressing through and achieving the ultimate goal of promotion.

And the former Great Britain international knows more than most about semi-final series, having experience of playing in the Super League play-offs with Hull and of winning the Australian Grand Final with Newcastle Knights.

"To get into any final series must be a big thing for the club and the buzz around the place is phenomenal at the moment," Jackson told the Evening Press.

"It's success that everybody is striving for, especially for the club.

"We will try our best, we've got to go that bit extra and then hopefully win through and get to the final. That's what it's all about at the end of the day."

The 34-year-old hooker, who, with 17 GB caps to his name, is one of the elder statesman in the Knights' set-up, has maintained an uncomplicated philosophy about the nature of the play-offs.

"If we lose we're out, it's that simple," he said.

"With the league games you've got next week to put things right if you have a bad game, but with the play-offs you haven't, especially with these elimination semi-finals.

"Once you've had a bad game you're out.

"Completing sets of six is a big factor. The teams that complete more sets usually wins the possession and wins the game. That goes for league games as well but it's most important in the play-offs as you've only got one chance."

The Knights beat Barrow home and away in the league to finish fourth in the table, one place above the Raiders, but Jackson reiterated the fact that that counted for nothing.

"The final series is a one-off," he explained. "You can maybe say we're possible favourites but they've shown they can beat anyone in the league and will be preparing really well.

"We've got to prepare even better than them. Up to now everything has been going well.

"The game will look after itself. Everyone is looking forward to it and it's a case of how we do on the day."

Updated: 10:23 Saturday, September 13, 2003