Barry Eaton is confident his Cougars side won't suffer stage fright against the mighty Bulls second time around.

Keighley were walloped 88-0 by the Super League giants in the annual Joe Phillips Trophy last year, conceding 16 tries without reply.

A similar one-way annihilation could be expected again when the part-timers lock horns with their neighbours on Sunday.

However, Eaton reckons his squad will be better prepared to pose some problems of their own.

He admitted: "We were a bit in awe of Bradford last season. The effort and commitment was fantastic but, although we did well in small periods, the game had gone and we were 24-0 down before we'd hardly touched the ball.

"We're hoping that doesn't happen again and that we're able to show the Bulls a little more about what we can do, rather than just defending. It's still a massive ask but hopefully we won't get star-struck again.

"We know what to expect now, while a lot of the new players we've brought in have played at a higher level so they add that experience too. We're looking to be able to get some opportunities of our own and get across the line.

"From a playing point of view, it's fantastic that our lads get to pit their wits against some of the best in the world. I'm sure we'll have some who impress Steve McNamara at Bradford too and all the players are looking forward to the game."

The hosts are boosted by the return of Richard Knight from injury, although the talented back-rower operates as a makeshift centre.

"He's played there a couple of times during games before and did really well at centre against Halifax last year," explained Eaton.

"He's capable of doing that and I'm just looking at it as another option as well with the Northern Rail Cup coming up, bearing in mind Mike Hastings and Mick Fogerty are still injured."

One centre - Ollie Pursglove - does return from the treatment table and he starts on the bench alongside former Hunslet three-quarter George Rayner, who is also back from a spell on the sidelines.

The Cougars begin in earnest with a Northern Rail Cup fixture at Whitehaven next week.

Cougars: Duffy, Gardner, K Smith, Knight, Hutchinson, Jones, Fawcett, Shickell, Feather, Rawlins, Nicholson, Cartledge, Redfearn. Subs: Presley, Wray, Mitchell, Pursglove, Palmer, Bissell, Sutton, Dubais-Fisher, Rayner, Lowe, R Smith.

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