BEN COCKAYNE is hoping his experiences gleaned from 349 professional appearances can help York City Knights end a 12-year hoodoo on Sunday when he hits the landmark 350 figure.

The former Hull KR and Wakefield star will line up for the Knights for the 30th time as they host a Barrow Raiders team they have not beaten since 2007, a run comprising 13 defeats from 13 meetings, including six in York.

He previously made 231 appearances in two spells at Hull KR, 56 for Wakefield, nine for Featherstone and 22 for Doncaster, after starting his pro career with two for Hunslet in 2004.

On reaching the milestone figure, the 35-year-old told Knights TV: "It's gone very fast. I'm obviously proud. I have a lot of pride in reaching 350. Here's to 400!

"At the age of 17, dropping out of college and going off to the Army, I never envisaged achieving what I've achieved. I'm grateful, thankful and very proud."

On being one of only three over-30s in the Knights squad, he added: "I try to lead the way I suppose.

"Coming through my career, I always looked up to the older players to see what they were doing in terms of training and what they were eating and stuff like that.

"It took me a while to get to grips with what you had to do as a professional, but the last six or seven years in particular of my career have been as a solid, professional player - I'd like to think they have - and now I'd like to give back to the younger fellas who are trying to make a name for themselves."

Cockayne was switched from the back line - where he had played virtually all his career - to half-back last season in an inspired move by coach James Ford which played a part in the Knights' League One title success, and he believes this has helped him make more use of his knowhow.

"It gives me more opportunity to be bossy to people," he joked.

"I played stand-off as a kid. I probably never had the natural ability in terms of skill set when I was younger to come through as a half-back into the academy ranks. That's maybe why I slipped under the radar.

"But since I got in the half-back position, I've really enjoyed it. It does give me an opportunity to get involved a bit more and help organise, and I think having that experience from 350 games is good for the team."

While York's run of defeats to Barrow has all been before Cockayne joined the club, he knows a big test awaits - made harder by the fact the Raiders recently added his former Hull KR mate, Josh Johnson, to their ranks. Johnson played six times for the Knights on dual-reg from Hull KR last season.

"They will be physical as always, like most Cumbrian teams," he reasoned. "Josh Johnson is a good mate of mine and I wish we could have got him down here. He's got the 'grunt' that you like from a front-rower.

"They're a solid team. They've been in and around that level - the Championship - for a number of years now and they've always performed well.

"We expect a tough test every week but these are a big, physical Cumbrian side, who will no doubt try to challenge us in the middle.

"I believe they've got some PNG guys now as well so I'm sure that's going to add some punch to their go-forward.

"It's going to be another challenge but we're looking forward to it and hopefully we can get another two points."

York's first two Championship points of term came in last week's 26-22 comeback win at Dewsbury - but Cockayne was not overly enamoured by the performance.

"It was a terrible first half, to be brutally honest, but we showed a bit of character in the second," he said.

"We had our purple patch and came back into the game and got them on the ropes a little bit and capitalised. And we managed to sneak it at the end.

"A win's a win. Just to get two points on the board is important but we have plenty to fix up this week."