YORK City Knights will come up against flying centre Damien Reid on Sunday for the first time since he quit the club at the start of the season.

Reid, signed by York from Gateshead in the closed season, played in only the first game of the Knights' campaign before leaving for Barrow in search of a guaranteed first-team berth.

The 20-year-old Scotland international scored 18 tries in the struggling Gateshead side last season, crossed the whitewash in both of York's pre-season games and has been a regular scorer for the Raiders since moving to Craven Park.

Knights coach Richard Agar said: "Damien is a good player. He gets over the try-line, but he does not play for us and was not here that long anyway."

Agar has pinpointed Darren Holt and Aussie second-row James King as dangermen.

The latter is reportedly a doubt after picking up a knee injury in Barrow's win over Hunslet, but Agar warned of his threat should he play. "He's been scoring a lot of tries and he's a guy we will have to have an eye on.

"Darren Holt looks like he's in good form. He's an old-fashioned type of scrum-half, with good deception and slight of hand and an outstanding kicking game."

Barrow second-rower Matt Leigh is likely to have a late fitness test along with King, while Paul Jones and Chris Archer both needed treatment for knee complaints but should be passed fit.

"We need to be well focused for this match, because York are a top side,'" said Raiders coach Peter Roe, who moved to Barrow from NL2 rivals Swinton Lions in the closed season.

Updated: 10:04 Saturday, May 08, 2004