FORMER Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson returns to the York City Knights line-up for the top-of-the-table tussle on Sunday, with boss Mick Cook saying his decision-making could prove vital.

Dewsbury's squad is littered with ex-Super League players and Jackson's own know-how may be needed to counter their experience.

Boss Mick Cook said: "He's fully fit again. When he plays well he can give the side an awful lot. He had to sit a couple of games out due to the form of other players but I think it's the right time to bring him back in. It's a big game and his experience may be a deciding factor."

Chris Levy switches back to half-back, which means no place for former Dewsbury player Scott Rhodes, with Paul Thorman, the match-winner last week, keeping his place.

Ian Kirke is fit to face his old club but Knights could be dealt a big blow after Yusuf Sozi joined fellow prop David Bates on the treatment table after pulling up in training. Cook has added James Ward and Mick Ramsden to the squad as cover.

Dewsbury are likely to be at full strength barring broken cheekbone victim Paul Seal.

Cook reckons there will be twists and turns in the title race no matter what the result in tomorrow's match of the day.

The Knights are a point clear at the top of LHF National League Two, with the Rams three points clear in second.

If the Knights win, they will stretch their lead to three points with five games of the regular season to go, while if Dewsbury win, they will go top for the first time since their 74-12 hammering at York in April, with the Rams appearing to have a slightly easier run-in.

Cook said: "A lot of people are putting money on who wins this game going on to win the title, but I believe there are still plenty of difficult games to go and a few things can happen."

He nevertheless predicted that tomorrow's game might be a classic. "We will have to be fired up," he said.

"It's a top of the table clash away from home. It's going to be really exciting. It will be tough and physical, with a lot of good skills on show. I'm looking forward to it."

Dewsbury boss Andy Kelly reckoned more pressure was on York as they were the title favourites at present, but joked: "We'd like to help take some pressure off them by beating them tomorrow.

"It's a big game. It's finely poised with five games to go. If York win, there would have to be a big change for them not to win the division; if we win it gives us the upper hand. But we all know that even the sides you expect a bit less from cause problems. I don't think it will be all over but I'd like to be in pole position by the end of the weekend."

Updated: 09:04 Saturday, July 30, 2005