THEY have been on the same field many times before but never in opposing colours.

That changes tonight, though, when York City Knights captain Paul Hughes goes up against his brother, Carl, in the Championship One clash at Keighley Cougars.

And it’s something they are both relishing in what could prove to be a grudge match at Cougar Park – with little brotherly love.

Carl, who had a spell at Huntington Stadium in 2003, is one of six ex-Knights in the Keighley ranks after joining from Featherstone in the off-season, while York have four former Cougars, with all ten wanting to prove a point.

Paul, 24, said: “I’m definitely looking forward to it. We both are. We’ve been talking about it ever since he signed for Keighley.

“I played with him at Featherstone and before that at Wakefield (academy), but this is the first time we’ve played against each other. It should be good.”

Asked if brotherly love will cease on the pitch, he said: “I don’t know about that.

“It will be just another game to us both and it’ll be nice to play against him. It’s something we’ve never done.”

The pair grew up at Stanley Rangers amateur club but Carl is two years Paul’s senior so they were never in the same team until they were both in Wakefield’s ranks.

As for who’s the better player, Paul said: “I’m going to say me, aren’t I. We’ve both got our strengths in different areas. He’s a loose-forward and I’m a hooker, so you can’t say who’s better.”

The good thing for both tonight is that their parents can see them in action at the same time, rather than having to pick one over the other.

Dad Mick Hughes was himself a player in Wakefield’s junior ranks and in the amateur game. He later coached at Stanley and in Wakefield’s academy set-up alongside John Harbin.

“We got into the game through our dad,” said Paul. “I don’t know who they want to win. I think they just want us both to play well.”

Both sides lost to Super League opposition in the Challenge Cup last week and both took positives out of the ties. Paul reckons his side are well set again after the indifferent opening two games of the league season.

“We’ve worked really hard following the first couple of games and we took that into Warrington last week,” he said.

“I think the (56-10) scoreline flattered them and we’re now working towards two wins this weekend, tonight and at home to Rochdale on Monday, which would put us in good stead for the rest of the season.”