IN-FORM half-back Scott Rhodes is confident of completing a quick-fire double over former clubs and thus help York City Knights chase Challenge Cup eminence.

Rhodes signed for home-town club York from Dewsbury last season after spending two years at Sheffield, and, having helped the Knights hammer the Rams in the Arriva Trains Cup last week, is eager to see off the Eagles tomorrow in the Challenge Cup fourth round.

A victory would put the Knights into the last 16 and potentially bank them a money-spinning fifth-round tie against a Super League club.

And, despite the fact the Knights have been hit with new injury problems - Aaron Wood is the latest casualty - Rhodes was confident of achieving a triumph at Don Valley Stadium (ko 3.15pm).

"I'm confident for every game," he told the Evening Press. "I've said it before I think we could push any team in the National League really hard.

"Dewsbury beat Sheffield by 42-18 two weeks ago, and we put 58 points past Dewsbury, so that says something.

"But it won't be easy. Sheffield will be one of the challengers in our league (National League Two) and there's a lot at stake. The winners will probably get a Super League team in the next round so it's really important, for the club's finances as well as the players."

He added: "I was at Sheffield for two seasons and that makes it that bit extra special for me."

Head coach Richard Agar was leaving it late to decide his line-up for tomorrow's tie in the wake of the injuries last week to Chris Langley (leg) and Damian Ball (back) and now to Wood (neck), which could leave him with a bare 17 players.

However, he said if this trio failed late fitness tests, he would have no qualms about putting in other squad men who have so far been on the fringes.

Youngsters Scott Walker and John Smith could return to the 17, while Aussie Mark Stewart will be eager to have his first run-out of the season having been 18th man in recent weeks.

Agar said: "We will miss them (Langley, Ball and Wood) if they're not fit because they're all in pretty good nick, but one man's loss is another's gain.

"The players who could step in have a chance to show their wares. They probably thought they should have been in to start with and this could be their chance to prove that."

He added: "It's an important game and obviously we want to progress - there's the excitement of being in the draw and from a financial point of view it can be rewarding for our club.

"I don't think it will be a yardstick for what will happen in National League Two because both sides have injuries and it's so early in the season, but it's an intriguing fixture with both teams on a bit of an equal footing."

Sunday's squads:

Eagles (possible): A Poynter, D Mills, N Turnbull, J Breakingbury, C De Chenu, P Reilly, M Aston, J Howieson, G Stanley, J Bruce, A Raleigh, C Brown, J James. Subs from G Hurst, A Carroll, K Collins, R North, R Goddard, S Tillyer.

Knights: from N Graham, C Smith, C Langley, M Stewart, D Callaghan, A Godfrey, S Rhodes, D Brough, D Briggs, L Jackson, Y Sozi, M Ramsden, S Friend, D Ball, M Cain, J Elston, C Forsyth, S Walker, J Smith, A Wood.

Updated: 10:11 Saturday, February 28, 2004