COMPLACENCY could be the silent killer in the Knights camp if attitudes do not change, Richard Agar has warned.

Several players were 'spoken to' this week about their attitude in training following their 20-year record-equalling seventh consecutive win on Sunday, and Agar has vowed to stamp complacency out as soon as it emerges.

"We didn't do a lot of training on Tuesday," he said. "We sat them down and warned them a little bit about getting complacent and told them that any complacency would be at their peril.

"Things are too tight at the top and we certainly can't afford any slip-ups."

The plea for maximum concentration and professionalism will be all the more resonant as they face a London Skolars side short on wins but big on ambition.

Last time the Skolars visited Huntington Stadium, they snatched a shock draw - earning one of three points for the entire season- in a 16-16 tie, and Agar is keen to avoid a repeat of the 'shock' tag.

"We are not taking the Skolars lightly," said Agar. "We have asked for some tapes on them and we have already seriously warned the players.

"Some of them - not all of them, just one or two, perhaps - came in on Tuesday in a mode that we didn't particularly like and we told them straightaway that it was unacceptable. We will stamp that out as soon as it happens because we cannot afford the consequences.

"We are all for confidence and we have a right to be confident. But I can certainly tell the difference between confidence and complacency and I think we had some individuals whose attitudes were not quite right.

"We have to watch out because it's games like these in which we will get stung. Having said that, they were all much better on Thursday."

If the Knights do keep a handle on their egos, they will make it eight games unbeaten in all competitions, another new Knights first.

Last week's magnificent seventh win in a row was a first since the promotion winning side of 1983-84 and the same team made it eight in a row by winning the first game of the following season. But another Knights win will make it eight in one season which has not been done by a York RL side in more than 25 years.

Mick Ramsden will face a late fitness test on his ankle. He had originally been ruled out because of his ankle injury, but signs of rapid improvement following treatment on Thursday evening have suggested he could make the subs bench.

The Knights of the future will have a chance to test their skills before Sunday's match when the Powergen Skills Zone comes to Huntington Stadium.

The giant inflatable staffed by qualified coaches offers youngsters the chance to practice passing, kicking and tackling and see how they measure up.

Pre-match entertainment in the form of junior tag rugby is again on the agenda with Ralph Butterfield, Tang Hall Primary and Osbaldwick schools all taking part.

Agar will be reunited with a number of familiar faces when the Skolars arrive tomorrow, having coached Jermaine Coleman, Ben Joyce and Tim Butterfield in the Great Britain Student team.

He said: "I know a couple of them but apart from that, I know very little about them except for their big forward, Rubert Jonker, who we are aware of."

The Skolars may be a fairly unknown entity to Agar, but Knights fans will be wary of the capital side having almost conceded an embarrassing defeat at home last season.

The match resulted in a 16-16 draw, one of only three points gained all season for the Skolars, and even though the Knights exacted their revenge with a 68-6 drubbing away, the fans will be wary of taking them lightly, especially as their opponents are enjoying something of a revival in fortunes.

Last week, they came from 26-12 down to beat Swinton Lions 28-26, with powerhouse prop forward Jonker bursting through two tackles on a 30 metre drive to the line for the match winning try.

Updated: 10:21 Saturday, June 19, 2004