MICHAEL Smith is unlikely to get carried away with the emotion surrounding the last-ever match to be staged at the Boulevard tonight.

The 26-year-old Castleford forward, who will make his debut for the New Zealanders in their opening tour match at the famous old ground, has nothing but painful memories of the time played for Hull.

He curtailed his first spell at Castleford three years ago to join the black and whites but was sacked after only a month for alleged off-field misbehaviour and, although re-instated, left after one unhappy season.

"It will be nice to go and play against Hull, there is no love lost there," said Smith. "I played about 16 or 17 games, the rest of the time I was injured.

"Obviously it's a different club now, they are definitely going well. It's going to be tough but it would be nice to get off to a win and get tour off to a good start.

"I think everybody is going to get an opportunity at some stage, it's about taking your chances."

The Tigers forward, one of two Kiwis on debut, has not played since Castleford's season ended three and a half weeks ago and spent the first week since the tourists' arrival getting to know his new team-mates.

"I knew a couple of the guys but not really well because I've been over here for the last four to five years," he said. "It was like going back to school for the first few days."

Tonight's match marks the return of the old-fashioned tour, albeit on a reduced scale, but also signals the end of an era as the curtain comes down on the Boulevard after 107 years.

The club will move into a new £43million stadium next season and they are expecting a capacity 11,000 crowd to witness their departure.

Hull, who have lost eight of their nine previous matches against New Zealand, will be captained by former Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson on his last appearance for the club.

Jackson, who first played for Hull at the age of 16, was a member of the last Great Britain team to beat the Kiwis nine years ago.

Two of Jackson's team-mates, Richard Horne and Paul King, have one last chance to impress Great Britain coach David Waite before he names his squad for the Test series.

Horne, Super League Young Player of the Year, will line up in his customary stand-off role but could find himself at full-back for his country after injuries robbed Waite of first and second choice number ones Kris Radlinski and Paul Wellens.

Hull coach Shaun McRae has tipped the 20-year-old Horne as a future full-back and even offered to play him there as a favour to Waite.

"I spoke to David and I was quite happy to help him out in that department," said McRae.

"He was happy for him to play anywhere but it doesn't mean it won't happen during the game. There is always a chance he could play at full-back at some stage.

"He likes to play there. He's got vision and good attacking skills. It's probably his most natural position."