LIAM Harris is raring to get his Betfred Championship season underway when York Knights host Toulouse Olympique tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

The newly-appointed captain admits he was “absolutely gutted” to miss out on the club’s league opener at Doncaster two weeks ago with a calf injury.

He was brought off as a precaution by head coach Andrew Henderson during the second half of the Knights’ AB Sundecks 1895 Cup quarter final victory over Oldham on March 3 -  a game which the hosts already had wrapped up by the interval after a blistering first half at the LNER Community Stadium.

In Harris’s absence, Kiwi playmaker Nikau Williams lined up alongside former Leeds Rhinos star Richie Myler in the halves at Doncaster as Andrew Henderson’s side were defeated 36-20 by the league newcomers.

And the half-back cannot wait to potentially return to the field this weekend.

“I’m excited to be back!” he enthused to The Press.

“I was looking forward to playing in Round One and I was absolutely gutted when the physios ruled me out. But that is what it is and it’s part and parcel of playing.

“But I’m excited to get going for my own Round One this week.”

As for his calf injury, Harris confirmed: “It’s all good now.

“I had a tear in my calf but I’ve managed to get some rehab through it.

“Obviously I wanted to play [at Doncaster] but the physios said no so I’ve rested it up and it feels good.

“It’s all good, fingers crossed.”

York Press: Harris and Myler had begun to form a blossoming half-back partnership, but an elbow injury has now sidelined the latter for three months.Harris and Myler had begun to form a blossoming half-back partnership, but an elbow injury has now sidelined the latter for three months. (Image: Craig Hawkhead)

The half-back role has become somewhat of a cursed position at the Knights over recent seasons - with Henderson forced to use as many as nine combinations in the position amid last year's unlikely run to the Play-offs.

And whilst the club have more cover this time around, they will still face the next month without Williams due to suspension, and marquee signing Myler, expected to have a three-month layoff after elbow surgery.

“At the start, it’s been a bit touch and go in the halves with the injuries to Richie and I,” Harris explained.

“We’ll probably have a different pair up this week as well, but I’m used to it now at York to be fair.

“It’s a real shame for Richie though, I thought he was really coming into his own and I wish him well in his recovery.

“But I’m sure he’ll still be helping us out around training and what have you.

“We just have to move forward from that now and just do what we can do.”

Potential replacements in the halves include both Ata Hingano, Harris’ regular partner in the position last term, and youngster Jack Potter, who moved permanently to dual registration partners Newcastle Thunder earlier this month.

But the newly-appointed captain admits that whoever lines up in the position this weekend will be well aware of the threat that Toulouse will pose.

He added: “I don’t think that we’re under any illusions that it’s going to be easy.

“I think it’s going to be tough, especially with our circumstances. We’re still missing quite a few bodies due to bans and and injuries. 

“We’re up against it, but we’re looking forward to the challenge of playing a full-time outfit.”