PROP star David Bates is determined to repay the faith shown in him by York City Knights - by helping the club achieve their promotion dream.

The 24-year-old was today set to line up against Blackpool at Huntington Stadium (ko 5.30pm) for his fourth game following his return from a three-month doping suspension.

And, with that "bad period out of the way", the Ireland regular is keen to return to international class form to bolster the club's push for the National League Two title, which he reckons could be the catalyst for big things for York rugby league.

"The club have been great sticking by me and I'm hoping to repay their faith," said Bates, pictured touching down in the pre-season friendly against Leeds Rhinos.

"I want to cement my place in the team, which is hard at York because there's a lot of competition for places, and help us clinch first spot."

Bates, who dropped down a division to sign from Halifax, was eager to get back into NL1. "Hopefully we'll get promoted and the club will want to keep me next year," he said.

"The club have got ambitions and so have I, otherwise I wouldn't have signed. I think rugby league in York is kicking off in a big way and winning promotion could be a catalyst for a lot of great things to happen there."

Bates' ban, just before the season started, attracted controversy in two ways: Great Britain players Keith Senior and Ryan Bailey had previously tested positive for the same substance, ephedrine, but escaped suspensions, while Bates' failed sample was taken following October's play-off final in which he ironically helped Halifax beat York to deny them promotion.

"I was disappointed with the ban but I don't really want to go into it," he said. "I want to concentrate on playing well for York."

Paradoxically, the ban might help him do just that. He explained: "It's made me stronger and I've had the longest pre-season for several years.

"I've been with Ireland the last two years (playing in the European Nations Cup at the end of the domestic season) and not had as long a pre-season as I'd have liked.

"In a funny sort of way, the ban has helped in that sense. I've had a longer pre-season which has helped me get my fitness - Colin Sanctuary (conditioner) has been a big help in that - and get to know the boys better."

He added: "I still need a bit of game-time. I've had a couple of games but these breaks in the fixture schedule haven't helped the team or me personally because you'd like to get a roll on but then you get a weekend off.

"We're looking to get a bit of momentum to challenge for top spot. I think we've got every chance.

"We've not had the best of form in the last couple of weeks, even though we've got results, and we're looking to get it right, starting today."

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, June 04, 2005