Keighley Cougars kick off their new season on Sunday with boss Barry Eaton insisting: We’re ready to shock some people.

First up are Gateshead Thunder in a Northern Rail Cup clash at Cougar Park.

Their opponents lifted the National League Two title last season and have invested heavily to have a stab at life in the new-look Championship.

Eaton said: “Gateshead have strengthened again with some more Aussies and have signed another three with NRL experience this week.

“I’m not sure if they are full-time now and they’ll have had more training than us but we’re familiar with some of their players as they have kept the core of last season’s squad.

“They’ll be tough but it’s not beyond us.

“I just want to encourage our players to implement everything we’ve worked on, be enthusiastic and give their all.

“This is what we’re here for; we want to be playing in competitive matches and everyone is now looking forward to the season getting underway.”

Keighley are actually the last team to defeat the north-east outfit, having beaten them 32-24 at Lawkholme Lane back in July.

From there, Gateshead went on a six-match winning streak to snatch the league but are now under new management after the shock departure of coach David Woods.

Assistant Chris Hood has taken over, while former Castleford Super League star Andrew Henderson – brother of former Bulls player Ian – is their major signing.

Meanwhile, Eaton hopes his side can buck the trend and progress in the competition normally dominated by Champion-ship clubs.

“The Northern Rail format has changed and if we’d have played under last year’s I might have fancied ourselves,” he said.

“As it is we’ve got a home game against a Championship side – Gateshead – and a tough one at Barrow, as well as a tricky trip to Blackpool and Hunslet at home from our division.

“We probably need to win three out of four to qualify, beating those from our league as well as pinching one against a Championship side but again it’s not beyond us. The first step is here on Sunday though.

“Although we’ve had some disruptions with injuries and visa problems, we’ve got to put those behind us and focus on what’s in front.

“Training has stepped up mark-edly over the last week and you can tell we’re getting near the real stuff.

“Now we need to go out and perform against Gateshead.”

Brendan Rawlins is awaiting his paperwork after a successful appeal over his work-permit issue so he won’t play.

Key captures Carl Hughes and Daley Williams are also out but Eaton still has a strong squad to choose from.

Hughes is recovering from a medial ligament injury and is not expected to feature in the cup, while Williams is still resting his broken thumb.

COUGARS from: Rayner, Smith, Gardner, Mapals, Duffy, Pursglove, Potter, Fawcett, Jones, Presley, Shickell, Bissell, Brown, Law, Wray, Feather, Cartledge, Lowe, Nicholson.