CRAIG Lingard says Cougars will have to front up well if they are to overcome Doncaster in the first match of their iPro Sport Cup defence on Sunday.

Lingard will come up against his old coach Gary Thornton when he takes charge of his first competitive game at the Keighley helm since taking over from Paul March.

And he knows what to expect from Doncaster, who are third favourites for promotion from League One.

Lingard said: “I’ve watched a few of their pre-season games. They’ve got a really big pack and they play down the middle with a second-phase rugby game with offloads and quick plays.

“We know they will come down the middle and maybe more so with the pitch in the condition it is in.

“I imagine it will be a tough battle down the middle but hopefully the pitch will dry a bit and help us.”

Lingard played under Thornton when he was in charge at Batley before joining him on the coaching staff at Mount Pleasant after retiring.

With the first round draw regionalised this season, keeping the northern teams separate from the expansion clubs, the Keighley coach wasn’t expecting an easy tie and is just glad to be starting his tenure at Cougar Park.

He said: “I’ve played under Gary and worked under him so it will be good to come up against him. If we’re going to far in this competition we are going to have to beat the best teams.”

Doncaster, who did the double over Keighley last season, suffered their first pre-season defeat to Hull FC last time out, losing 38-18, but they have beaten Leeds Rhinos and Sheffield Eagles sides.

Among their ranks are former Cougars Ritchie Barnett and Charlie Martin, who scored Keighley’s winning try in last year’s iSport Cup final victory over York City Knights.