FULL-BACK Shannon McDonnell says Hull KR must be wary of his former team-mate and Wakefield skipper Steve Southern this weekend.

McDonnell and Southern played together at Newcastle Knights – when current Rovers boss Craig Sandercock was assisting Rick Stone.

McDonnell says Southern will have a big impact for the Wildcats this season, and also in Sunday's game, if Rovers let him.

"He deserves to be their captain. He's a quality player, a good leader and a workhorse," McDonnell told the Mail. "He'll tackle and run the ball all day and he'll make a lot of metres.

"We have to control players like that and try and take them out of the game."

Southern is part of a Wakefield side that started their season with a hard-fought victory over newcomers Widnes last week.

McDonnell says that means they will enter this contest in confident mood, with Rovers needing to be at their best to secure a first win of the campaign.

"We really need to turn up and be ready to play," he said.

"They will be confident coming off a strong win at Widnes.

"We've done the video on them and assessed them as best we can."

Assessing his own performance after his Super League debut, McDonnell wasn't too delighted with his display.

He made 35 metres on six carries and produced the scoring pass to Kris Welham for his try seven minutes into the second half.

But being his own biggest critic, McDonnell says he expects more.

"I felt it was a quiet night for me," he said.

"The game went fast and it did take me by surprise for a first game.

"I wasn't too happy or too disappointed with my performance.

"But it wasn't the normal standard of what I set for myself.

"I know what I am capable of and every time I don't achieve that I'm pretty angry with myself.

"I wasn't too happy with Friday night's game but the only way you get better is by being hard on yourself every week.

"You can't be complacent with your performance if you feel that yourself it was average."

McDonnell hopes to get Rovers past the winning post for the first time this season.

With St Helens coming to MS3 Craven Park the following week, he says a win is vital to ensure they enter that game with spirits high.

"We don't want to go into our first home game with two losses, especially with a class team like St Helens as visitors.

"The belief is still strong within the squad.

"We were right in that Leeds game and we just need to build on things. The rest will come and I am sure this will be a good year for the club."