SAMOAN utility player Albert Talipeau is poised for his York City Knights debut in their potentially crucial clash against Workington Town at Huntington Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

The former Sydney Rooster was snapped up on loan until the end of the season from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in a deadline-busting deal.

A slight knee injury prevented him from making the trip to London Skolars last week but the loose-forward, half-back or hooker is set for his bow in the crucial LHF Healthplan National League Two game against one of the Knights' possible challengers for promotion.

The Cumbrians have lost only once in nine matches in becoming LHF Healthplan National League Two's form team and are expected to be a danger in the forthcoming play-offs for a second promotion spot.

York, who look likely to lose out on the automatic promotion place, need one more win from their last two games to virtually guarantee runners-up spot and an easier passage in the play-offs, and tomorrow's last home game of the regular season provides Richard Agar's men with a chance to do that and sustain a run of five wins heading into the knockout stages.

The Knights expect to have a virtual clean bill of health tomorrow, with the only slight doubt being free-scoring winger Austin Buchanan, who has been laid low with sickness and missed the trip to the capital.

Darren Callaghan is available after attending his brother's wedding while Scott Rhodes (swollen knee), Chris Smith (neck) and Richard Wilson (shoulder) appear to have shaken off injuries.

The game has been moved forward to tomorrow to avoid clashing with Sunday's Evening Press Raceday on Knavesmire.

The Knights are hoping for another big crowd but are also mindful that the amateur RL season starts tomorrow with Heworth at home to Ince Rose Bridge and York Groves tackling Selby Warriors.

Agar doesn't think his men will be affected by the date switch. "We have switched one of our training nights from Friday to Saturday morning a month ago," he said.

Agar is driving home the importance of finishing the season strongly though it now seems unlikely they will catch leaders Barrow.

"You never know what might happen," he said. "We can see some light at the end of the tunnel but it is probably just beyond our grasp but we are going to fight to the death."

Reflecting on the Knights' heavy defeat at Workington, Agar said: "I think we caught them at the wrong time after they got in their overseas players."

That loss started a run of three successive league defeats which seems set to cost York automatic promotion. But the best way to set the record straight would be to exact revenge tomorrow and finish the Huntington Stadium campaign on a high ahead of the probable play-offs.

Tomorrow's game could be the Knights' last home game of the season depending on where they finish in the table and the outcome of the play-offs.

The Player of the Month for August, voted for by Evening Press readers, will be presented with his award before the match.

Also, York RL great Vic Yorke, who had his 46-year-old goals-in-a-season record bested by Danny Brough last week, will be guest of honour.

Squads:

York City Knights v Workington

LHF Healthplan

National League 3

(at Huntington Stadium)

York City Knights (from): C Smith, Walker, Langley, Spurr, Farrell, Buchanan, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Jackson, Sullivan, Ramsden, J Smith, Talipeau, Friend, Elston, Callaghan, Cain, Sozi, Forsyth

Workington Town (to be announced)

Referee: Julian King (St Helens)

Kick-off: 3pm

Updated: 10:58 Friday, September 03, 2004