RETURNING captain Dan Potter reckons York City Knights' big match experience could be a key factor ahead of Sunday's "must win" encounter.

The Knights face Sheffield Eagles needing to avenge last month's Don Valley Stadium defeat to sustain realistic hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup.

And Potter, who will make his seasonal bow at centre having missed the opening three games due to a hamstring injury, reckons the know-how gleaned in vital games during last season's promotion campaign will stand them in good stead.

"We've got to be confident," he told the Evening Press. "Last year when it came to big games we put in the performances we needed. The lads from last year will remember that and we'll know what we need to do to come through again.

"It's the biggest game so far for us - it's a must-win game otherwise it will need some freak results for us to get back above Sheffield."

He added: "It will be great to be back. I was really disappointed to miss the first three games. I've never been out at the start of the season like that and it was really frustrating for that to happen before such a big game. I was looking forward to that Hull KR game all of pre-season and then I got injured just before it.

"I felt I could have played last week but Mick Cook did not want to rush me back. I'm looking forward to getting back now though."

He otherwise played down his return - as well as the notion of avenging the 29-24 loss to Sheffield a fortnight ago - saying the focus was on getting a good team performance.

"I don't think it's got too much to do with my return," he said. "It's all about how the team performs. I don't think we've put in a performance that's up to scratch yet so there's a lot more to come, and all the lads know this.

"We need to cut out the silly mistakes and daft penalties and control the ball better. Once we do that we will get better performances."

He added: "I don't think revenge is something to talk about. It's more about getting our performances right. If we do perform as we're capable of, we will get the two points."

Potter will now lead the side out for the first time having been named team captain on the eve of the season, though admits he might have a fight on his hands to get the armband.

"I might have to wrestle it off Jonny Liddell," he joked referring to the player who, along with Jim Elston, stood in as captain for last week's win at Featherstone with both Potter and club captain Lee Paterson sidelined.

"He's been saying all week that he's got a 100 per cent record as captain. Hopefully I can continue that run."

Squads:

Northern Rail Cup Group 6

Knights: from Blaymire, Lingard, Potter, Spicer, Farrell, Thorman, Hasty, Sullivan, Liddell, Ward, Smith, Blanchard, Golden, Elston, Buckley, Bovill, O'Loughlin, Clarke, Dunmore, Bates, Paterson.

Sheffield: from Woodcock, Hurst, Ford, Poucher, Worrincy, Lindsay, C Brown, Howieson, Pickering, Morton, Dickinson, Brown, Presley, Ostler, Andrews, Fletcher, Hay, Brentley, G Brown.

Referee: Craig Halloran (Batley)

Kick-off: 3pm.

Updated: 10:17 Saturday, March 04, 2006