RICHARD Agar goes head to head with his old boss for the first time tomorrow as York City Knights look to complete a big double over Dewsbury Rams.

The Knights chief was player-assistant to head coach Andy Kelly at Featherstone last season and, following Kelly's departure, had been tipped to take over his reins at Post Office Road.

But he instead came to York and, with Kelly having been installed as Dewsbury boss last month, will meet his old pal head-on at Huntington Stadium when the sides meet for the penultimate Arriva Trains Cup group game.

"He's an old mate," Agar told the Evening Press. "He's in a transitional period, finding out about the players he's got, but I'm sure he will have a positive effect.

"From what I saw last week they looked to put a stronger side out onto the park than for most of the season."

The Knights hammered Dewsbury 58-16 in the reverse fixture in February but Agar, although confident of completing a double, has warned against complacency as the Knights seek to increase their chances of progressing to the knockout stages of the ATC.

Agar's men lie second in the Yorkshire group on points difference ahead of Featherstone, who visit leaders Batley tomorrow and then entertain the Knights in the last group fixture next week. The teams that top the groups qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition while the second-placed teams, plus the best third-placed team, go into play-offs for a place in the last eight.

"We're expecting a tough game," said Agar. "It was really tough over there for long periods and we played quite well.

"It's a game I think we should win, and we need to win to qualify. Winning won't guarantee it but it will go a long way towards it."

He added: "I'm not concerned about points difference - I just want to get the win and we'll reassess the situation before Featherstone next week."

Updated: 10:28 Saturday, April 03, 2004