Fallen giants Hull Kingston Rovers should hold no fears for York Wasps, according to captain John Strange.

The Australian leads his side to Craven Park tomorrow to take on the one time kings of rugby league and the only unbeaten side in the Northern Ford Premiership.

But Strange sees no reason why the Wasps cannot return with a valuable two points to take into Monday's equally tough clash with second placed Hunslet.

He said: "Hull KR are leading the competition but I don't think there's any great difference between them and sides like Swinton and Keighley who we've beaten.

"I'm looking forward to it because I've noticed the one good thing about York is we seem to lift ourselves against the so-called good sides. I think these two hard teams have come at the right time. If we get two wins then we can take it on."

Craven Park has been a happy hunting ground for Strange. He played there twice during his Featherstone Rovers days and on both occasions finished up on the winning side.

It will be his first visit in Wasps colours and knows victory could be the tonic York need to fire up their play-off hopes after picking up just one point from their last two games. He said: "It's hard to say what's wrong but there is a bit of a lack of confidence. As captain I try my best to build up confidence but sometimes on the field it's difficult. Things are out of your control because sometimes the players do things and you're tearing your hair out.

"But you have to try to be positive all the time, during the games and in training."

Strange admitted last week's draw against Batley was a point lost but he believes it was another lesson learned which could prove crucial as the season progresses.

"We were very disappointed. We had the game wrapped up and let them back in. But it was just another learning curve. We know how to score but we don't know how to put sides away. Hopefully we can learn from that and if we get in that position again hopefully we'll keep the ball tight and wrap it up.

"We can still make the play-offs. We've shown we can do it but we've got a lot of learning to do and unless we improve on Batley we're not serious really. It's up to us."

Breaking down the best defence in the league tomorrow will prove an awesome task. The Robins have conceded just 44 points in their opening six games but coach Dean Robinson believes that is partly due to the size of the pitch.

He said: "They have the minimum pitch size. It's the smallest field in the league and they use it to their advantage. They'll be backed up by a very strong home support and we know it's going to be tough.

"They've made no secret of the fact that they think is going to be their year. On turning out their best 17 they would be my favourite to finish in the top two. But if we get back to playing away like we did against Keighley and Rochdale there's no reason why we can't come away with the two points."

For the first time in three weeks Robinson has virtually a full squad to choose from. He will not the name the team until training tonight but Darren Callaghan will retain his place at scrum half following his man of the match performance against Batley.

He will up against the outstanding Stanley Gene, widely regarded as the best player outside Super League, and Robinson believes the Wasps half backs will relish playing against the Rovers pairing of Gene and Chris Kitching."Mark Cain and Darren Callaghan against Gene and Kitching will be an interesting battle in the middle of the pitch.

"Gene is without doubt a quality player. If anything he benefits from perhaps being quiet at times which means that defences sometimes forget about him to their cost. He did the same against Bramley last week. For 70 minutes he was relatively quiet then he destroyed them in the last quarter."

Craig Booth is the only notable absence from the Wasps squad. The prop forward gets married on Saturday and will then go on a three-week honeymoon so he will be out of contention for the next four games. Andy Preston returns to the squad after completing a seven-match ban.

Rovers, who include former Harrogate RU winger Jon Wray, are also at full strength and are likely to name an unchanged side from that which beat Bramley 12-0 last week. Ex-Sheffield Eagles centre Whetu Taewa is added to the squad.

Hull KR: R Smith, Rouse, Danby, Fletcher or Taewa, Wray, Kitching, Gene, Luckwell, Dixon, Thompson, A Smith, Hughes, Charles. Subs (from): Chamberlain, Gray, Bibby, Hardy, Wilson, Harrison.

York Wasps (from): Strange, Benn, Goddard, Austerfield, Deakin, Cain, Callaghan, Hagan, Edwards, Hill, Judge, Lambert, Darley, Preston, Ramsden, Pallister, Precious, Tichener, Crane.

Referee: Graham Shaw (Wigan)

Kick-off: 3pm

There are still places available on the York Wasps Supporters Club coach to the game. It leaves Huntington Stadium 1pm prompt, cost £5. Ring Ann Garvey on 01759 380298.

York Wasps squad parade their new strip for the 1999 season. Back row (left to right): Andy Preston, Mark Cain, Chris Hopcutt, Matt Lambert, Chris Judge, Steve Hill, Shaun Austerfield, Greg Gregory (sprint coach)Middle (left to right): Brian Kellett (Academy coach), Mick Hagan, Steve Harris (kit supervisor), Mick Ramsden, Darren Callaghan, Paul Darley, Andy Precious, Mick Crane, Iefata Sini, John Paterson (assistant coach)Front row: Peter Edwards, Lea Tichener, Alan Pallister, Dean Robinson (head coach), John Tongue (sales director, Hogg the Builder), John Strange, Jamie Benn, Leigh Deakin.

Sini appeal ditched

York Wasps have decided not to appeal against the four-match ban imposed on winger Iefata Sini.

Sini was handed the suspension at a Rugby Football League disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for striking Workington scrum half Carl Roden in a bust-up during the Premiership clash at Derwent Park.

York considered launching an appeal in light of Roden receiving just three matches but chief executive Jim Race today said they would take the matter no further. The wingman will miss tomorrow's game at Hull KR, Monday's home clash with Hunslet and the following two games against Doncaster and Bramley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.