IAN Kirke admits it might feel odd to line up against his old mates tomorrow, but he is eager to make a statement of Super League intent.

The 25-year-old second-rower, one of the star performers in York City Knights' title triumph last season, returns to Huntington Stadium in Leeds colours having signed a two-year deal with the Rhinos.

And while Kirke acknowledges it will be tough to force his way into the Rhinos first team, he realises the importance of a good show against his former club.

He said: "It's one of the toughest teams to break into and you're waiting for people to have a bad run of form or - and I wouldn't wish this on anybody - suffer an injury.

"I've just got to train as hard as I can and keep in the frame. I've got to play well in games and try to impress (Leeds head coach) Tony Smith."

He added: "It's always strange playing against your old team. I've a lot of friends at York and winning the league brings you closer together. However, once the game kicks off it will be like any other match, and when the whistle goes we can catch up then."

That catching up might include details of the rumoured loan move to Harlequins, which proved unfounded. Loan switches are not on his mind.

"It depends how I go in the friendlies and in training," he explained. "If I do all right, Leeds will hopefully want to keep me around. If not, I might have the option of going somewhere else but I'm concentrating on Leeds."

His efforts so far saw him awarded a squad number - 22 - this week and a place with the first-team at a training camp in the Lake District, Leeds having rejected warm-weather training for the Cumbrian National Park.

Of his pre-season with Leeds, Kirke said: "I'm loving it - it's got to be the best job in the world. It's a bit tougher (than at York) - you're there every day for four hours rather than twice a week for two hours. But you have the chance to get a lot more done and I think I'm improving."

A fellow ex-York hero, who will be on show tomorrow Peter Fox - number 23 - was also among those awarded squad numbers this week, as was Jason Golden (25), who has joined York on loan but will still train in midweek at Headingley.

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, January 14, 2006