THIS is a must-win game. That was the importance given to Friday night's match at Sheffield Eagles by York City Knights coach Richard Agar.

Both sides are level on points with Hunslet in second place in LHF Healthplan National League Two, with the Knights ahead on points-difference, but both are on poor runs, having lost their respective last three games.

And Agar said: "Although it is too early to be starting to think about the end of the season, if we want to go for automatic promotion and win the league then the next games are must-win, including against Barrow as well.

"We are not contemplating anything other than two wins.

"There are plenty of twists and turns yet to come, especially when you look at teams such as Chorley, Workington and Swinton who have all shown massive signs of improvement this season.

"Both teams are fancied and up there and obviously it's been our toughest patch of the season. Although I don't know too much about what's going on at Sheffield, I would say it's probably their toughest patch of the year so far, too."

All of Sheffield's recent losses have occurred at their Don Valley Stadium base and Agar will be hoping a new-found "buzz" around Huntington Stadium afforded by the week off will ensure the Eagles' torrid home form continues.

"They've lost a few and will be pretty desperate for the win, and both teams will be carrying a few nerves," he said.

"We've had a week off and we have now got some competition for places which is good for the players because they need to be mentally fresh.

"It has benefited us for sure, having the weekend off. We've noticed more of a buzz about the place.

"We have looked at various factors as to why we have lost our way a bit. Sometimes the expectation's got a little bit beyond what's happening at the club and we have played a lot of football.

"The reality is that it is unlikely that a team's going to go through the entire season unbeaten.

"We are up there at the moment, but that can all change in an instant."

Eagles coach Mark Aston said: "It will be a cracking game -- Sheffield v York fixtures always are.

"They've beaten us a couple of times already this year, and we need to put that right.

"We haven't been playing particularly well - we've lost our last three and our confidence is down a bit. But they've lost their last couple too, so I imagine both teams will have a lot of enthusiasm."

As reported by the Evening Press yesterday, Agar has virtually a full squad to choose from, welcoming back long-term injury victims Chris Smith, Dan Briggs and Jim Elston - whose return has signalled the departure of Leeds loanee Johnny Wainhouse - as well as NL2 Player of the Month for June Austin Buchanan, who missed the defeat at Hunslet a fortnight ago. Aaron Wood was the only doubt with a shoulder problem.

Agar was to leave it late to decide his line-up, but said there was likely to be changes following the three-match losing streak.

Tonight's game is the fourth of five consecutive home games for the Eagles, a situation caused by the fact the Don Valley Stadium has been booked-up at other times of the season, which saw Mark Aston's men open the league campaign with three away games.

Friday's squads:

Sheffield Eagles: from Poynter, De Chenu, Turnbull, A James, Hurst, Sodje, Mills, Brown, Doherty, Rice, Collins, Bruce, Raleigh, Brown, J James, S Dickinson, A Dickinson, Tillyer, Morton.

York City Knights: from Graham, C Smith, Buchanan, Walker, Kama, Wood, Langley, Cardoza, Cain, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Jackson, Elston, Sozi, Forsyth, Briggs, Callaghan, Friend, Ramsden, J Smith, Ball.

Referee: Julian King (St Helens) Kick off: 8pm.

Updated: 10:59 Friday, July 23, 2004