 Saints coach Potter faces his old club |
St Helens will face Super League rivals Catalans Dragons in the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup as they bid for a fourth successive crown. The tie pits Saints coach Mick Potter against the French outfit he left last year to take over at Knowsley Road. The second all-Super League clash sees Wakefield host Wigan. Rochdale, the lowest-ranked club left, face a tough task at Huddersfield, while the only non-Super League tie pits Gateshead against Oldham. Batley entertain lowly Super League outfit Salford, who upset 2008 runners-up Hull in the previous round, while Featherstone host Warrington. The remaining ties see Castleford host in-form Championship side Halifax and Hull KR host 1998 winners Sheffield, who came from behind to defeat Dewsbury.  | 606: DEBATE |
The game between Saints and Catalans is a repeat of the 2007 final when Saints, under the charge of Daniel Anderson, saw off Potter's Dragons. "I would have preferred a different team, given that we play them the week after as well," said Potter. "It'll be tough but it could have been worse, we could have got them away two weeks in a row." Saints came through with an impressive victory over engage Super League champions Leeds but the Dragons also caught the eye by coming from 26-0 down to beat Bradford 40-38. Potter added: "It'll be good to catch up with a few people after the game but it will be tough. "They weren't at their best in the first half against Bradford but in the second they were great. I really enjoyed watching the game." Hull KR coach Justin Morgan admits the draw could not have gone better for his side. "I'm very happy and I'm really pleased we are at home," he said. "Sheffield are a bit of an unknown quantity for us but as we get closer no doubt we will find out a little bit more about them.  | There's a month to go and we'll go there, put out our strongest team and give it our best shot Rochdale coach Darren Shaw |
"I'm just delighted we avoided some of the top teams. There are no teams in the competition that frighten us but, having said that, you'd much rather avoid the likes of Saints or Wigan at this stage of competition." After almost folding over the winter and beginning the campaign with a nine-point deduction, Rochdale's tie with Huddersfield gives the Hornets something to look forward to. "Going to Huddersfield will be a great occasion and I'm very happy," said Hornets coach Darren Shaw. "It will be great for the players and myself to be facing Super League opposition and maybe it will help the club financially, too. "Huddersfield have been scoring lots of points and are riding high, but there's a month to go and we'll go there, put out our strongest team and give it our best shot."
Challenge Cup fifth-round draw Gateshead v Oldham Batley v Salford Castleford v Halifax Featherstone v Warrington St Helens v Catalans Dragons Huddersfield v Rochdale Hull KR v Sheffield Wakefield v Wigan Ties will be played over the weekend of 9 and 10 May.
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