JONNY PRESLEY wants to sing along to Simply The Best after Saturday's iPro Sport Cup final - to bring back happy memories of his first-ever knockout triumph two decades ago.

The veteran half-back will be a key on-field organiser as York City Knights take on his former club, Keighley Cougars, in the Summer Bash showdown in Blackpool, when the first piece of silverware of the domestic season will be up for grabs.

He has fond recollections of winning the 2009 Championship One Grand Final with Keighley, but Tina Turner's famous song refers to something many years earlier - the Under-11s Castleford Cup.

Any old affinity with the Cougars is also out of the window for the 31-year-old, who has recently racked up a century of appearances for York.

Asked if any previous finals were particularly special to him, Presley said: "I remember playing in the Grand Final with Keighley in 2009 when we got promoted to the Championship - that was a great experience.

"I think that whatever capacity you’re involved in a final as, whether as a player, referee, coach or fan, and whatever level you’re at, they mean a lot to you.

"That’s why I think everyone is looking forward to this weekend so much.

"I also remember playing in the U11s Castleford Cup final, when we played at Cas Tigers’ ground.

"That was the first final I played in when growing up. My dad was the coach at the time, which was the only time he had ever coached me.

"He played Tina Turner’s Simply The Best before the match and after too, and it’s something I remember to this day and I was only a little lad then.

"If we win at Blackpool and I have my way that will be on the playlist after the match."

On the Cougars, he added: "It’s nice to see Keighley doing well because I enjoyed my time there.

"There are a few players still there who played when I was there, but it is a final and it means a lot to me and all the players that are playing from the two clubs.

"We at York will be going out to do our utmost to win the game."

York and Keighley met in the Challenge Cup in March, the Knights winning 20-12 having built a 20-0 interval lead. Presley, though, thinks that counts for nothing, as does the teams' current form - York having returned to winning ways on at Newcastle Friday after their super start to the season stuttered, while the Cougars won seven matches on the bounce before Sunday's defeat at surprise package London Skolars.

He reckons Keighley start as favourites, too.

He said: "We could be classed as underdogs with our recent results, with the disappointing defeat at Barrow and the draw against North Wales Crusaders.

"We played Keighley earlier this year and managed to beat them but that was a tough game.

"Certainly in the second half they were on top for large periods but we'd put together a really good first-half performance that was able to see us through.

"Both teams have changed since then and both teams have probably improved. It’s a one-off game and anything can happen.

"While Keighley probably are favourites, we’re quietly confident we can go there and win.

"I have no doubt the game will ebb and flow. Keighley will have their periods in control and we’ll have ours. It’ll come down to who can keep their nerve and stick to what works best for them.

"It’s all about maintaining composure, sticking to structures and game plans, doing what you always should be doing and not changing things just because it’s a cup final."

York won the Championship One play-offs themselves in 2010 but until now have not reached a knockout cup final since the 1978 Yorkshire Cup - and have not won one since way back in 1936.

Asked what it would mean to the fans if they were to lift the iPro Cup, Presley said: "The club hasn’t been to a final in a knockout competition for many years, which has been spoken about in the local press quite a bit.

"In terms of the time elapsed since we were last in a cup final, it gives us a good opportunity to rewrite history."