STEVE DEAKIN'S new side goes on show tonight with a meet-the-players night at Cougar Park tonight.

The squad is close to to being finalised, although Deakin admits he is still waiting for three or four players to commit to his go-ahead young outfit. They will meet the fans after training at about 7.30pm

Former full-time Bradford Bulls squad member Mike Banks is the latest to join the growing list of talent eager to play with Deakin's 'young guns' and he is determined to prove his ability.

After leaving the Bulls he joined Hunslet and was picked out as one of their most threatening players when they met Cougars last season.

His is just 21-years-old and plays either prop or second row forward and has impressed the Keighley coach with a sparking ability to spring a late pass which can put his team mates clear.

"He is another good addition to the squad," Deakin said.

The team faces a marathon 10-month season starting on December 2nd when they travel to face Dewsbury Rams, which is expected to be one of the toughest games of the campaign. They follow up with a visit from Chorley Lynx followed by the long journey to Workington Town.

On Boxing Day the club will welcome the fans of Gateshead Thunder to Keighley and the big New Year's Day fixture will be a visit to the McAlpine Stadium to face last season's Super League outfit Huddersfield Giants.

But before the league campaign gets underway they are to play a pre-season friendly against the Giants on Friday, November 16, when the game will have a 7.30 kick off.

"It will be a game when we can try out one or two things we have been working on in pre-season training, but we won't be putting everything on show. Pre-season games are an opportunity to try a few things out, give everybody a chance to work in a proper game situation, but no one should expect too much," Deakin said.

Season tickets are on sale throughout the day today with a personalised season pass costing £96. The pass will include a photograph of the owner and everyone wanting to buy a season pass should take along a passport size photograph.

After tonight's training session players will be staying locally and putting in a full day training session on Saturday followed by a night out. They will be back at the ground on Sunday to complete a full weekend's training schedule.

Jason Ramshaw is also preparing to kick off his testimonial season in style in December and is planning a string of events including a WWF Wrestling night and a schools rugby tournament.

But the biggest coup of his year so far is to get Leeds Rhinos to travel to Cougar Park for a testimonial game on February 3. Leeds have one of the biggest groups of travelling fans in the game and they will be keen to see their team in action before Super League clubs join the Challenge Cup the following weekend.

"I hope it will be a day everyone will enjoy," Jason said.