Danny McGuire admits it will be strange to go up against Leeds Rhinos on Thursday but assured he is fully committed to claiming a win with Hull KR.

After a 15-year spell at Leeds, McGuire signed off his time with the Rhinos with a man-of-the-match display as they dispatched Castleford Tigers in last year's Grand Final – the eighth time he won Super League's top prize with the club.

Now a Hull KR player, the veteran stand-off will not be taking it easy on his former team-mates at Elland Road.

McGuire told Omnisport: "I'm looking forward to it. It's obviously a little bit weird playing against a lot of your really good mates, playing against the club I spent over 20 years at, but once you put the shirt on and commit to the cause you want to go out and win.

"That's how I always have been really, put friendships and loyalties aside for a night."

Kallum Watkins replaced McGuire as Leeds skipper and the 35-year-old has tipped the centre to be a success in the role.

"I think he'll do really well," he said. "He'll lead by example. He's a fairly quiet bloke but when he speaks he says the right things and he'll do a fantastic job.

"When you're captain you try not to change it too much, he'll be himself and he'll do a really good job."

Rovers went down 28-6 to Wakefield Trinity in their first match since earning promotion from the Championship last season, but McGuire is relishing the chance to help a team facing in a vastly different situation to what he has been so accustomed to during a glittering career.

"It's why I jumped at the chance to move, a different challenge and a new opportunity," said McGuire.

"The club is in a really good place, the lads are really confident after a good season last year so I suppose my job is to come in and steer the ship a little bit with experience.

"We're all excited, we know it's going to be a tough challenge. The team that gets promoted always has it tough but all the boys are ready for it and looking forward to the challenge."