JON Higgins says Hull Ionians should under-estimate Dudley Kingswinford at their peril.

National Two North’s second-placed side visit Heathbrook this Saturday, weather permitting, looking to capitalise on the first defeat of the season for leaders Stourbridge.

But they will meet a DK side still brimming with confidence from their win over Darlington Mowden Park and while Higgins has no lack of respect for the visitors, he has told them not to expect an easy ride.

He said: “I was impressed with Hull when we played them earlier in the season, I remember thinking how well organised they were.

“They have some good players who keep the team ticking.

“But we have shown if teams come to Heathbrook and don’t take us seriously we can turn them over.

“If we can repeat the intensity we showed against Darlington there is no reason we cannot pull off an upset.

“It will be a challenge but it is not one we should fear.”

Like most of the league, DK put their feet up last weekend as the weather put paid to their fixture at Sheffield Tigers.

The break did allow fly-half Gareth Bown an extra week to recover from damaged knee ligaments which have kept him out since before Christmas and could make a return on Saturday.

Higgins said: “Gareth is definitely in contention.

“I had mixed feelings about last week’s game being off.

“On the one hand it’s good for the players to have a rest but it would nice to carry the momentum from the Darlington game up to Sheffield.

“It would have been a good test for us.”