JAMES HAYNES has warned his York City Knights team-mates they cannot go into their massive game at Dewsbury Rams thinking it will be any easier than recent tasks.

The Knights have tackled the Co-operative Championship’s top three teams – Leigh, Featherstone and Batley – and Super League-bound big-guns Widnes Vikings in their last four games.

On Sunday, though, they face arguably the biggest game of the lot, away to fellow strugglers Dewsbury in a relegation six-pointer.

And Haynes, who had an aborted loan spell at the Rams last season before coming to York, says his side should be confident given the positives from their last three displays, but he has warned there cannot be any let-up.

“Leigh are a top side and we were within ten points of them, Featherstone were in the grand final last year and we weren’t too far away, and Widnes are getting in Super League and we pushed them all the way,” said the full-back-cum-winger.

“There’s no reason why we can’t now beat teams around us, but everyone has got to turn up to these games with the same mentality.

“You can’t afford to switch off against anyone in this division because anyone can beat anyone else.”

York beat Dewsbury and Toulouse just after Easter, and Haynes, who was out with a neck injury at the time, missing 11 games in total, says they need to complete doubles over their lowly rivals in the coming weeks. If so, he reckons the Knights can then look up the table towards the play-offs.

“We’re starting to put in some decent performances and, although we’re still falling just short of where we want to be, I’m confident that it will come very soon,” he said.

“Dewsbury Rams is a big game for us. It’s a game we really need to win. We need to beating teams like Dewsbury and Toulouse and picking up points at other places.

“We were a bit dumb in a couple of games. Away at Featherstone we got a little bit excited with ourselves and fell short. But the mood in the camp is really good, especially after the Widnes game.

“They put a couple of tries on us (either side of half-time) but rather than crumble we dug in and in the end we were maybe unlucky not to come away with more than a bonus point.

“The bottom half of the league is tight, so if we beat Dewsbury, get something off Batley and then beat Toulouse, we could be looking up at the play-off spots.”

There is debate on the terraces as to whether Haynes, used on the wing since his return from injury, should revert to full-back but Tom Bush has kept that shirt.

“I’m just enjoying playing,” said Haynes. “After missing the first half of the season, I’m just glad to be wearing the York shirt, and I’m happy to do any job I can do for the team.

“Full-back is probably my best position but I’m happy to do a job on the wing for Dave Woods and for the lads, and I’ll do it the best I can.”

As for his time at Dewsbury – he made 12 appearances before his season-long loan from Super league club Hull Kingston Rovers was cut short – Haynes said: “I wasn’t really enjoying my rugby.

“It was tough. We were losing games and I struggled to find form. I didn’t think it was the right place to be at and I wanted to go back to Hull KR.

“My agent then spoke to York and I was happy to go there and have a crack at Championship One. I thought it was probably better for me. I found a bit of form and I feel a lot better. I think maybe you’ve got to take a step back to take two steps forward.”

Haynes scored a memorable try in York’s grand final win and signed for this season.

“I’ve really enjoyed it here,” he said. “Everyone is really positive and pushing in the right direction.

“There’s a great bunch of players and a great coach. I think if we carry on with the way we’re going, it could a good season for us in the end.”