CRAIG FAGAN has promised there will be no old pals' act against Stern John at the KC Stadium tonight... even though it could cost the Hull City star a free holiday in the Caribbean.
Fagan and John are friends after linking up together at Birmingham City earlier in their careers.
John comes from Trinidad and Tobago and had promised Fagan a free trip to the Caribbean this summer but the holiday is in doubt because John will be representing the Soca Warriors in the World Cup in Germany.
But Fagan knows he will definitely have to get out the holiday brochures and his wallet if he helps The Tigers sink John and his Coventry team-mates.
"Stern is one of my best mates in football," said the forward.
"We've always got on well. He played against us at the KC earlier this season when he was on loan at Derby. He didn't get on the scoresheet and we won 2-1
"I know he's looking forward to the game tonight. This time, he says he's going to score and Coventry are going to win. I just hope he's wrong!
"It might cost me the holiday but with the World Cup, I'm not so sure we'd have gone anyway."
He added: "He's been on the phone giving me a bit of grief but I gave him some back!
"Seriously, he's a quality player and there are a lot of them about in this division."
Fagan is confident Hull have turned the corner after that emphatic 3-0 victory against Stoke City and has called on his team-mates to show the same positive attitude that helped them end a four-match losing run.
"The big difference at Stoke was how we set off and from the first whistle," said the eight-goal forward.
"From the kick off, Stu Elliott raced across to close someone down on the opposite side of the pitch, got a tackle in and that set us on our way.
"We've got to do that tonight. If we can win that first tackle and win that first header we'll get the crowd with us."
Fagan could switch to the right wing with recent buys Jon Parkin from Macclesfield and Darryl Duffy from Falkirk forming a new-look strike pairing with three goals between them in just two games.
Ideally, Fagan would prefer a central role but is full of praise for Parkin and Duffy and is happy to play anywhere as long as City are winning.
"They are pushing for a start and that might mean me playing on the wing. The lads are saying I'm the new Jason Price! I prefer striker but if I'm on the wing I'll get on with it and do my best for the team."