FORMER York favourite Jamie Benn will be hoping to be the ace up Dewsbury's sleeve at Rams Stadium on Sunday.

The ex-York Wasps star has recently rejoined the Rams having missed the Arriva Trains Cup campaign while playing for his amateur club in Castleford.

And his return to fill the full-back slot has boosted the Rams ranks as Andy Kelly's side embark on their battle for a play-off space.

Dewsbury have won half of their six National League Two games and currently occupy seventh spot, out of the play-off places only on points-difference, and Kelly is eyeing a surprise victory over his former number two Richard Agar's side.

He will need former Knight Adam Thaler and experienced scrum-half David Mycoe to win the half-back battle against in-form ex-Rams Danny Brough and Scott Rhodes, who impressed in the two Arriva Trains Cup hammerings handed out to Dewsbury earlier in the season.

Kelly has said tomorrow's game will be a good benchmark of how much the Rams have improved under his guidance since then, and while he may also have a few tricks to throw in to surprise his former assistant.

Rams winger Ian Preece, who sustained a dead leg in the win over Gateshead a fortnight ago, is expected to return to action, benefiting from the week off the Rams have had due to last weekend's Arriva Trains Cup quarter-finals.

Youngsters Anthony Thewliss and Chris Wolford, who have made strides in the Rams' Under-21 squad, are also staking selection claims.

Updated: 10:45 Saturday, June 12, 2004