EXPLOSIVE charger Yusuf Sozi is hoping to strike the highs on Sunday when York City Knights go into what he deems their most important game of the campaign so far.

The Knights visit Barrow aiming to end the Raiders' unbeaten run and get among the early pace-setters in National League Two.

And the 22-year-old prop, who has become a big hit with the York faithful, wants to have a blast again tomorrow.

"They've got a big pack and, just like last week when we beat Sheffield, our pack has to match them," he said.

"It's the biggest game of the season so far and all the lads are looking forward to a big battle."

This is the Knights' first away trip for a month and it couldn't be much tougher. Barrow have a 100 per cent league record and are unbeaten in seven matches, with particularly impressive victories in their last two games - coming from 20-0 down to beat NL1 side Keighley in the Arriva Trains Cup and then seeing off Hunslet, who had defeated York a fortnight earlier.

"They're doing well but we've watched a video of them and picked up on a couple of their bad points and a couple of their good points and hopefully that will help us," said Sozi.

The Ugandan-born powerhouse is loving his time at York having joined the Knights from Gateshead in the closed season.

"I'm really enjoying it," he said. "It's a totally different atmosphere to what it was like last year. I like the way Richard Agar coaches and the fans are great, especially the travelling fans. I'm sure they will be there in numbers tomorrow - it's a big game and they know we will need their support."

Sozi has been vital to the Knights' front row this season and he has relished carrying the weight of duty.

"I would not say it's pressure, but it's brought out a better player in me," he said. "I can't rely on anybody else - I have to rely on myself.

"I'm looking to pick up on my consistency more than anything and play well week in week out."

He added: "Our pack is up there with the best in the division. We are not the biggest but we proved against Sheffield you don't have to be that big to be up there."

Sozi is likely to be joined in the front row tomorrow by Richard Wilson, whose loan from Hull KR has been extended on to a week-to-week basis - delighting boss Agar - while fit-again prop Dan Briggs also comes into the 20-man squad.

The 17 on duty last week were also joined by Alex Godfrey, who could play after three weeks out with hamstring trouble, and second-row stalwart Mick Ramsden, though Agar was keeping quiet as regards his line-up.

Agar said tomorrow's clash was no more important than any other game, but recognised the danger posed by Peter Roe's men. "They're doing well, they're unbeaten in the league and we will have to be on top of our game," he said.

Barrow Raiders v York City Knights

National League Two (at Craven Park)

Raiders: from Bower, Beech, Reid, Jones, Pate, Acher, Holt, Dancer, Clark, Wilcock, Whitehead, King, Pugh, McClure, Leigh, Lupton, Luxon, Wakelin

Knights: from Graham, Godfrey, Langley, Wood, Godfrey, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Jackson, Sozi, Callaghan, Friend, Ball. Subs: Stewart, Elston, Cain, Forsyth, Walker, Ramsden, Briggs.

Referee: P Benthan. Kick-off: 3pm.

Updated: 10:06 Saturday, May 08, 2004