YORK City Knights last night made a shock deadline-beating swoop to land Wakefield star Albert Talipeau.

The Samoan, who has played 13 times in Super League this season, including three starts, has joined on loan until the end of the season, taking in the play-offs if necessary.

Talipeau, who does not count on the overseas quote due to the Kolpak ruling, will not be considered for tomorrow's LHF Healthplan National League Two trip to London Skolars but will be in the running to make his debut in next Saturday's crucial home game against Workington.

He can play at loose-forward or hooker and Knights spokeswoman Ros Buckley said: "We're delighted to have him.

"He is a quality signing with proven Super League experience. Hopefully he will add a lot to the squad as we enter a vital time of the season."

The Knights' focus tomorrow, meanwhile, will be fixed on New River Stadium tomorrow - and not Cumbria's Craven Park.

The Knights visit Skolars needing a victory to stay in the title hunt, while over in Cumbria, leaders Barrow take on Sheffield in a game that could decide the destiny of all three clubs.

But Knights boss Richard Agar is adamant his side's attention must not stray. "As we keep saying we can only look after ourselves," he said.

"There's no point looking at other results and banking on them if we're not going to take care of ourselves.

"With three games left it's all to play for. The outcome of the Barrow v Sheffield game could dictate where we finish but unless we beat London Skolars it's pointless looking at that result. We've got to make sure we've got our heads on and get the result.

"Skolars have improved a lot this year and have had some decent results. We're not expecting an easy game. They're a tough team and last time they got stuck into us a bit and we expect more of the same."

A victory for Barrow tomorrow would mean the title and the sole promotion place would be theirs barring an almighty slip-up in their last two games against bottom pair Gateshead and Dewsbury.

However, a victory for Sheffield - they are favourites to triumph as Barrow have injury problems - coupled with a Knights win, would put Agar's men on top of the tree on points-difference ahead of the South Yorkshiremen, with Barrow slipping a point behind.

Boosting the points-for column would therefore seem important should the title come down to points-difference, but Agar stressed: "We're not looking at that, we're looking at winning the game.

"We've put a bigger emphasis on keeping them out rather than saying 'we must score lots of points'. It would be stupid to say that because it would make our team more anxious.

"We want to stop the other team scoring and I'm confident that if we do that we've got points in us no matter who we play."

Updated: 09:54 Saturday, August 28, 2004