NEW York City Knights captain Lee Jackson has admitted this could be his swansong season - and if so he wants to go out with a bang.

The 34-year-old former Great Britain international will enter his 17th campaign as a professional when the Knights take on Batley tomorrow. Whether it will be the last of a distinguished career is yet to be decided, but either way he is eager to lead his team to success.

The year began in notable fashion when he was unveiled as the club's new skipper, taking over from prop Rich Hayes, who had led the team last season. And the former Hull, Shef-field, Leeds and Newcastle Knights hooker is eager for it to finish in style too.

"I love the game and I would play for ever if I could, but I will be 35 in March and I've got to hang my boots up some time," Jackson told the Evening Press. "This might be my last season - although I don't know for definite - and I would really like to win something with the Knights. Everything to do with the Knights, for me personally, is something special."

Jackson has also spoken of his honour at being handed the armband. "I'm very proud to be captain," he said. "Getting the armband is a great honour for anybody."

Jackson, who has 17 Lions caps, Challenge Cup winners and runners-up medals and an Australian Grand Final winners' ring to his name, believes he could end the season with more silverware courtesy of the Knights.

"I would like to think we could get promoted (from National League Two)," he said. "I think we've got a better squad than last year, more experience and better players.

"We used 54 players or something like that last year and that tells its own story and it was unfortunate for Paul Broadbent (then coach) that he had that squad. To finish where we did was a credit to the players he did use.

"We look stronger this year all over the park. For every position you can think of there are two or three players wanting it, and that can only be good for the squad.

"It's going to be a long hard season but hopefully we can go week in week out putting the effort in, and with the calibre of players we've got we can do the business."

Jackson, a veteran of 15 years in top-flight rugby before joining York from home-town club Hull in December 2002, was not satisfied with his contribution on the pitch last season and is aiming to hit the heights personally this year.

"I was pretty disappointed in my performances last season," he explained. "I had a few games out with injury and when I thought I was getting somewhere towards the levels I should have been playing I got my back problem and I could not get into my stride."

Jackson returns to top level rugby - albeit briefly - on Wednesday, February 4, for his benefit match between Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos at the KC Stadium in what will otherwise be a fully-fledged pre-season friendly between the Super League rivals.

He had spent nine years in total at Hull, having begun his professional career there in 1987.

As for whether that illustrious career is likely to run beyond this season, he said: "I will have to see what happens. Your mind can say carry on but your body might say you've got to stop."