PLAYER-BOSS Paul March reckons York City Knights’ wonderful run against Keighley might give his side the edge again when they meet tonight.

York have only lost once to the Cougars since reforming as the Knights – and that was the first time they met in the new club’s inaugural 2003 season.

Nine subsequent clashes between the sides have all gone the Knights’ way, and while Keighley coach Barry Eaton says that statistic bears no relevance to the game, March thinks it could play on the Cougars’ minds tonight.

He said: “I got made aware of it on Tuesday by Richard Knight (York’s former Keighley second-row). He’s spoken to a few of their lads about it and we know they want to put it right.

“We definitely want to maintain that run, though, and it possibly will be in the back of their minds.

“We need to get stuck in early and take the game to them. If we do that, it might play on their minds that they haven’t beaten York.”

He added: “We played Dewsbury, who are title contenders, in the first game of the season and we let ourselves down. People are talking about Keighley being up there as well so we’re aiming to go there, set our stall out and make sure we compete and show everybody we mean business.

“But I’m sure Barry will have them all firing, so we need to make sure we prepare well and be on top of our game.”

The Knights' sole defeat to Keighley was 38-26 at Cougar Park in May 2003, but was followed two months later by a Scott Rhodes-inspired 48-28 York victory at Huntington Stadium in front of a then record National Two crowd.

Keighley went on to be promoted that year so the teams did not meet in 2004, likewise they did not meet in 2006 during York’s one year in the higher tier.

But the Knights did the double over Keighley in 2005 – with York’s comeback from 31-12 down with 19 minutes left to win 42-31 at Cougar Park, led by Adam Sullivan’s momentous performance, kick-starting the promotion run.

And they won all four contests between the sides in 2007 – two Northern Rail Cup wins followed by two league wins – as well as both league clashes last season.

Eaton said: “I wasn’t aware of (that statistic) so I don’t expect my players are. I know we lost both times last year to York and that is something we want to put right, but I don’t think that record will have any relevance tonight.”

Both March and Eaton have named 23-man squads for their respective Easter weekend double-headers, with line-ups for tonight being finalised late.

Former York full-back George Rayner is set to overcome a neck injury to play, while fellow ex-Knights Lee Mapals, Jamaine Wray and Carl Hughes will certainly be involved. Dan Potter and Neil Lowe are among those added to the 17 that lost to Castleford in the Challenge Cup on Sunday, but their appearance against their former club depends on injuries.

Aussie prop Brendan Rawlins is still stuck down under awaiting his visa.

March, too, has four ex-Cougars in his squad – Richard Knight, Adam Mitchell, Chris Clough and Danny Ekis.

Knight – who was at a golf day for retired Keighley player Karl Smith’s testimonial fund yesterday, along with March – is a big doubt because of the ankle injury he suffered against Warrington last week, while Mitchell’s selection depends on fellow half-back Danny Grimshaw’s health after he picked up a virus.

Danny Ratcliffe (shoulder) was also a doubt, though Dave Clayton, Mitchell, Carl Barrow, Kris Peacock, Adam Jones and the fit-again Jordan Ross are added to last week’s 17.

March added: “We spoke about it last year, saying the ex-York lads will want to do well against us. They’ve got Mapo (Mapals) now as well and they will be up for it, but there’s a squad of 17 we need to be wary of, not just them.”

Eaton reckoned it could be a feisty affair. He said: “It’s an exciting clash. We’ve got a number of ex-York lads and they’ve got some ex-Keighley players, so that adds a bit of spice.”

Keighley: from Rayner, Gardner, Smith, Williams, Duffy, Presley, Jones, Law, Feather, Cartledge, Gunney, Purseglove, Nicholson, Wray, Mapals, C Hughes, Bissell, Sagar, Lowe, Potter, Brown, Fawcett, Hutchinson.

Knights: from Ratcliffe, Oakes, M Mitchell, Haberecht, McHugh, Grimshaw, A Mitchell, P March, Ekis, P Hughes, Sullivan, Kelly, Knight, D March, Hodgson, Applegarth, Clough, Woodcock, Clayton, Peacock, Barrow, Jones.

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington)

Kick off: 7.30pm.