LINDSAY ANFIELD insists that the “pressure is off” York City Knights Ladies heading into the Betfred Women’s Super League play-offs, which begin this weekend.

York captured their maiden BWSL League Leaders’ Shield with a 22-14 win over title rivals Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium on Sunday.

The Knights now face Wigan Warriors, also at Headingley, this Sunday (3pm) for the right to play the winner of Leeds and reigning champions St Helens at September 18’s Totally Wicked Stadium-held Grand Final (3.30pm).

Having captured the Shield, Anfield’s side are now the team to beat heading into the season-defining finale.

“I think the pressure is probably off us now,” director of rugby Anfield however stressed.

“If you look at your season, and all the hard work and preparation you put into it, either as a player or a coach, you want it to be a success.

“To win a minor trophy, in the Nines, and a major trophy last weekend, in the Shield, that’s a big tick for us and a major success.

“To get to a Grand Final and do the double, that’d just be a bonus for us.”

After the high of securing the Shield last weekend, Anfield’s attentions quickly turned towards plotting how to win a third piece of silverware in the space of three months.

“I got in from celebrating and couldn’t sleep, so I started looking at the video from Leeds and sending the girls stuff about the game,” she laughed.

“The attention is most definitely on this weekend and making sure that we get past Wigan and get to the Grand Final.

“Wigan can be a tough side to play. When it’s play-off football and there’s a lot of stake, you never know what’s going to happen.

“We’re not going to take it for granted. We’ll prepare for them as we would prepare for any other team.”

The Ladies return to Headingley on Sunday, having quickly become accustomed to playing at large stadiums over the past couple of seasons.

The match will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports, further highlighting the rapid growth of women’s rugby league.

“It’s still always nerve-wracking to play at these stadiums,” Anfield admitted. “We love playing at Headingley, it’s got a similar feeling to the (LNER Community) Stadium at York.

“We love the way that the women’s game is being portrayed and being broadcast on Sky is going to be massive in terms of attracting people who might not have watched women’s rugby or women’s sport before.

“Being on TV means we can reach a wider audience. Being shown on YouTube on The Sportsman (against Leeds), people might not know how to watch that or be aware of that.

“To be on a real mainstream sports channel that is well publicised and is accessible for more people, this is a prime opportunity for us to engage more people and show we’re a club and a team that is going somewhere in the city.”

York are set to rest centre Tamzin Renouf, who has a hamstring issue, while winger Kelsey Gentles is line to return from a knock.

Prop Alisha Clayton is a doubt having had surgery earlier this season.