EXPLOSIVE Aussie Simon Friend reckons York City Knights have a point to prove as they enter a crucial period in their promotion campaign.

The Knights visit arch-rivals Hunslet Hawks on Sunday (KO 3.30pm) desperate for a win on several counts, and 27-year-old Friend is adamant they are up to the job.

The Knights need the two LHF Healthplan National League Two points not only to boost their own title aspirations but also to damage Hunslet's, while they also want to return rapidly to the victory trail after defeats at Hull KR in the Arriva Trains Cup and at Workington in the league last week.

A win would also be a major tonic as they head into ensuing games against fellow title contenders Sheffield and Barrow. And on top of that, they will be out to avenge their first defeat of the campaign, Hunslet having won 21-8 at Huntington Stadium in April.

Friend told the Evening Press: "We've got something to prove against these guys. They came out very enthusiastically at our place and we didn't match it.

"After last week, we've put our minds right for the job. I don't think we turned up mentally last week. We've had a talk about it and there'll be no problem this weekend. It was a bit of a wake-up call hopefully and we can only fix it."

The 27-year-old second-row, who has been a big hit in England since joining the Knights from Canberra Raiders Reserves in the closed season, suffered a minor ankle knock last week but is fully fit and "really looking forward to" the South Leeds Stadium showdown.

"We've got to be right on the money this week," he added. "It would be an important result for them as well, but, that said, every time someone comes up against us they seem to step up some paces.

"We know they're a strong side and we've got a job to do."

As reported by the Press yesterday, the Knights' injury crisis has abated, with only Jim Elston, Dan Briggs and Chris Smith definitely out. Three more unnamed players will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness before coach Richard Agar names his team.

New recruit Carl Stannard is in the squad alongside fellow loan ranger Dale Cardoza, who made his debut off the bench last week.

Agar's opposite number, Roy Sampson, could throw teenage three-quarter Danny Herbert and Carl Stevens in at the deep end for Hunslet.

Former Bradford academy youngster Herbert signed for the Hawks after impressing in the York 9s for winners West Indies Wahoos - for whom Sampson was assistant coach - while ex-Batley scrum-half Stevens adds half-back cover.

Former York winger Leigh Deakin, who impressed in the Hawks' win at Huntington Stadium in April, is again set to face his former club, while York-based Jonny Liddell is also set to play.

Knights can't afford to lose

York City Knights players don't need telling the importance of Sunday's game.

That was coach Richard Agar's assessment ahead of tomorrow's LHF Healthplan National League Two trip to Hunslet Hawks.

A defeat for the Knights could see them slip four points behind leaders Barrow Raiders with eight games to go, while a loss for the Hawks could leave them six points off the pace and at the lower end of the play-off zone.

Agar told the Evening Press: "I still think it is a little bit early to be saying a win for us would knock out Hunslet. I don't think four losses is enough to knock you out.

"But we've slipped a place and we've got Sheffield and Barrow in the coming weeks. We always knew these three weeks would be vitally important to how the season finishes.

"Last week's loss (at Workington) leaves us dropped off top spot and that's where we want to go back. We've set a goal of winning our remaining games and anything less than our best might not be good enough.

"The players don't need telling how important this game is -- they know themselves."

Squads:

Hunslet Hawks: from Rayner, Hall, Murrell, Ross, Deakin, Bastow, Liddell, Tawhai, Lockwood, Hawley, Royle, Freeman, Seal, Fearon, Pryce, Wray, Ibbotson, Herbert, Stevens.

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

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven)

Kick off: 3.30pm

Updated: 10:25 Saturday, July 10, 2004