YORK City Knights utility star Darren Callaghan reckons the pressure is building at the top of National League Two.

Seven teams are effectively fighting for six play-off places, with all seven knowing that higher finishes glean key advantages for the play-off series.

Sixth-place York, who bounced back from defeat to Sheffield ten days ago with a thrashing of Gateshead on Sunday, are just three points behind the four teams sharing top-spot - one of which is Barrow Raiders, who visit Huntington Stadium on Sunday.

"The pressure is on now," Callaghan said. "It was a great win for us at Gateshead on Sunday and it sets us back up again for the big one against Barrow.

"Hopefully we can get a result, and then (seventh-placed) Swinton away the week after is another big one. A win there would set us up for the three home games, but we have to take it one game at a time."

He added: "Our first win in the league was at Barrow. We went there and did a good job and that set us on the road.

"They're going well at the moment but hopefully we can front up in the forwards, play well and keep on the winning track."

Callaghan - formerly a half-back who has played at loose-forward, second-row and centre this season - will be hoping he and the team can continue their try-scoring form after the side notched 11 against his former club, Gateshead, on Sunday, including his tenth and 11th tries of the season.

"Coming back here and scoring two was nice," he said. "I'm happy whoever scores but it's nice to score against your former club. I will keep going and hopefully I can keep bagging a few, but it doesn't matter who gets them as long as the team get them."

Callaghan revealed his fellow centre at Gateshead, Neil Law, took some ribbing after failing to get over the try-line for only the third time in his 11 matches for the club.

"We have a bit of a laugh and a joke in training about scoring, and we had a bit of crack with Neil Law because he did not score and I got two," he said.

The Knights are still waiting for news on Scott Rhodes' injury. The stand-off injured a knee in the defeat to Sheffield ten days ago and it is thought he suffered some ligament and perhaps cartilage damage. He needs another scan and will return to the specialist next week.

Updated: 11:27 Wednesday, August 06, 2003