THE two favourites for the National League Two title go head to head at Huntington Stadium on Sunday with York City Knights looking to lay down an important early marker to the rest of the division.

The Knights, the bookmakers' choice for the sole automatic promotion place, entertain second-favourites Hunslet Hawks (ko 3pm) in only the second fixture of the league season.

And although coach Richard Agar has rubbished claims the game could hold the key to both sides' title aspirations, he admits it is a massive clash all the same.

"I think every game will have a say and we can't say at this stage that this game will go a big way to deciding the title," he told the Evening Press.

"All the games are worth two points and you get the same two points for beating Gateshead as you would for beating Hunslet.

"But already this early in the season this is such a big game and one we're looking forward to."

Hunslet, York's derby rivals down the years, opened their campaign on Bank Holiday Monday with a 42-14 thrashing of Workington Town while the Knights toiled to beat Chorley 32-18, and Agar reckons tomorrow's encounter could be a classic.

"I would like to think we would improve," he said of his team. "The fact we've had a bit of a rest will leave us more refreshed - we've not put too much strain on the players - and although it's still only five days since out last game I'm hoping the players will be revitalised.

"I was not too disappointed with our performance against Chorley. I thought they were a big, strong, tough team and we you will find they will get one or two results in the coming weeks."

Agar has pin-pointed Hunslet half-backs Latham Tawhai and Danny Wood - who faces a late fitness test on a hip injury -- as well as hooker Jamaine Wray as key adversaries.

"You can understand why they're among the favourites," he said of the Hawks. "They've got a very big squad - I would hazard a guess it's the biggest in the competition - and there's some very good players in there. The pivots are all good players which in itself makes them a threat, and they've got some good forwards, some experience up front.

"They will be highly motivated - Roy Sampson is a good motivator - and they've got some smart footballers. I expect a really tough game."

One of those forwards is former Halifax star Danny Fearon, who is back with the club following coach Sampson's quick swoop to sign him over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Also in the Hawks squad are York-based aces Jon Liddell, the York Acorn ARLC product, and winger Leigh Deakin, has had several spells at Huntington Stadium including last season when he notched two tries in 11 games for the Knights.

Updated: 10:29 Saturday, April 17, 2004