CRAIG Lingard knows what to expect when Cougars take on Castleford-based Fryston in Saturday's Challenge Cup third round, having played for one of their local rivals.

The Keighley head coach featured for Wakefield neighbours Sharlston Rovers as an amateur before joining Batley Bulldogs.

Lingard knows it won't be easy against the Pennine League champions, who have already claimed a higher-ranked scalp in beating National Conference League neighbours Normanton Knights.

But he believes an encouraging pre-season and Sunday's League One Cup win over Doncaster will stand them in good stead.

Lingard said: "We've played two amateur teams in pre-season (Hunslet Warriors and a Keighley Amateur Select side) so we know what amateurs are going to throw at us.

"Being a Sharlston lad and being quite close to Fryston, I've seen a few battles between the two teams. "I know Fryston are going to be really aggressive and try to unsettle us but I think Doncaster had a bit of that about them.

"They tried to unsettle us in the middle of the park but we showed as unit that we wouldn't be bullied and we stood up for each other. That's what we'll need to do this week if need be."

Fryston are expecting a four-figure crowd at Featherstone Rovers' Big Fellas Stadium after the match was switched there due to ground regulations. The Pennine League has given permission for its clubs to postpone fixtures if they wish to attend the tie.

Cougars will travel with confidence though after beating a Doncaster side fancied to do well in League One.

But Lingard will be not be complacent and said: "We've still got a lot of work to do. I was not very happy with our goal-line defence. Teams looking at us will be saying 'get to within Keighley's ten-metre line and you are going to score a try'.

"We certainly need to work on that and be a bit more ruthless in our defensive patterns on our line."

A host of players made their Cougars debut against Doncaster, with Lingard singling out second rower Emmerson Whittel for his performance.

He said: "I was really impressed with him. He came off the bench and did a good stint. He does a lot of the little stuff which people don't realise apart from the coaching staff and team mates.

"Some of the work he does is outstanding and, out of all the debutants, he stood out for me."