BARROW beware, Jacko's back and raring to go.

Having missed the early part of the season with sciatica, ex-Great Britain international Lee Jackson has declared himself fit to step back into the firing line-up for York City Knights against Barrow Border Raiders.

The former Hull, Leeds and Newcastle Knights hooker, the biggest of York's signings, has seen his opportunities limited this season by the painful back condition, but after no reaction from two weeks hard training Jackson is back in the frame.

And having been a frustrated spectator as the Knights have gone through a lean spell, Jackson, who picked up 17 caps for Great Britain, wants to make up for lost time and repay the faith put in him and the rest of the squad by the York backroom staff.

"It has been frustrating and I'm just itching to play again," Jackson told the Evening Press. "It has been difficult being out, especially with the club's situation as it is, but it has been painful just to bend over and for my position that is vital. Just when I thought things were okay, it would give you a little reminder that the problem was still there.

"I'm not sure whether me coming back will make a difference, I might fill a little gap, but we have to work together as a team.

"It has been a learning curve for the club, but Steve Ferres, Paul Broadbent and Co have put together a team and it is up to us to repay them. We have to go out there and show what we all know we are capable of.

"We can turn things around and go on to the play-offs, but it is in our hands. There is nothing anybody other than the players can do. We know where we are going wrong, so hopefully we can get out there and put things right."

Jackson believes that the root of the Knights' ills could well lie in their defence.

"We have been letting ourselves down in defence," explained Jackson. "Our attack is not a problem as we have been scoring plenty of points. Unfortunately we have been conceded far too many.

"It is strange because during the Arriva Trains Cup we would have sides camped on our line for 20 minutes and they could find no way through.

"However, since the Featherstone game the team seems to have lost that and we need to get it back. We have been working hard on it in training, but we need to do it in the game. The players know what we need to do.

"We can beat Barrow, but it is not about thinking of winning or losing. We need to just concentrate on playing our game and the points will look after themselves."

The re-emergence Jackson after suffering from a lower back complaint, will see the ex Hull, Leeds and Newcastle Knights star compete with the in-form Trevor Krause for the number nine shirt.

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, May 24, 2003