RICHIE Hayes leads York City Knights' former Hull KR contingent back to Craven Park tomorrow determined to turn the tables on his old club.

The 33-year-old Knights skipper enjoyed two prosperous seasons with the Robins, including being named 2002 Northern Ford Premiership prop of the year, but says that will only spur him on as he seeks to help his home-town team avenge the opening day defeat by Steve Linnane's men.

"You always want to play well against your old club," said the York hero, who had eight seasons at Huntington Stadium before moving to Rovers.

"You want to play well against whoever you're up against, but when you're going to be scrutinised by your old team-mates it makes it that more special."

Mark Cain and Alex Godfrey were also at Rovers last season, while Graeme Hallas, Gavin Molloy, Darren Callaghan and Scott Yeaman are former Robins men. Physio Pat Howdle makes up the ex-Hull KR clan now with Knights, while hooker Lee Jackson - who was to have a late fitness test on his back - is a childhood Rovers fan.

"It's always good to go back there," said Hayes. "The supporters there are really good and I think we will take quite a few to hopefully shout them down. They make everybody welcome and it should be a good day out."

Hayes has led from the front in the Knights' two successive wins over Sheffield and Doncaster. "If we can perform anything like last week and if we can iron out the creases we've got a good chance of taking them all the way," he added.

"Everybody has realised you can't just turn it on on a Sunday; you have to be professional throughout the week and these last few weeks it's been there in training and it's paying dividends on a Sunday."

As reported by the Evening Press yesterday, Rovers have signed former Wigan and Great Britain prop Harvey Howard and he is set to make his debut in tomorrow's Arriva Trains Cup clash.

But Hayes said: "I've never played against him before - but he's just another fella with two arms and two legs. You just get on with it. Everybody is up for it and keen to do well."

Player-coach Paul Broadbent was looking forward to making re-acquaintances with Howard.

"I've played against him plenty of times. It will be interesting," he said.

"He will give them a bit more strength. They will be pretty tough as it is, but I don't see any reason why, with the confidence we've got, we should not be going there expecting to get a result."

Darren Robinson has overcome an ankle twist and is included, while Craig Westmoreland is also in the provisional 19.

The Robins will give prop Richard Wilson (neck) a late test but Mark Blanchard (throat infection) is okay and key half-back Latham Tawhai (hamstring) could make a surprise return.

Knights: from Smith, Godfrey, Hallas, Lloyd, Callaghan, Molloy, Beever, Firth, Krause, Hayes, Jackson, Robinson, Broadbent, Bolus, Fletcher, Ramsden, Cain, Embleton, Westmoreland.

Updated: 10:19 Saturday, March 22, 2003