York City Knights have been handed a potential banana skin in their first-ever match in the TXU Energi Challenge Cup.

The Knights visit amateur high-flyers Skirlaugh Bulls in the third round, a team who lie fourth in National Conference League, effectively one standard below the Knights' in the rugby league pyramid.

The Humbersiders also have a proud Challenge Cup record and only last year took Swinton Lions to extra-time, while for the Knights it will only be their second-ever competitive match.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said York would pay their hosts respect but expected his club to go through.

"With what we've assembled and the way they're training, I would be very disappointed if we did not come up with a good performance and a result," he said.

"Sometimes the lesser professional sides can get shocked by the better amateurs if they've not prepared properly. But I am sure Paul Broadbent (Knights player-coach) will have the players well prepared by then.

"It will be Skirlaugh's final and they will be up for it but with the sort of players we've got on board we should be able to look forward to coming away with a win."

There was confusion over who had home advantage, with some reports claiming it was with the Knights as York's name had been picked out first. However, the Rugby Football League today confirmed Skirlaugh were given the tie, the separate home or away draw having given them the nod.

Nevertheless there is a possibility Skirlaugh might switch the clash to Huntington Stadium to increase the gate, or even to the Boulevard, the former home of Hull FC - if so it would mean an immediate return there for Knights' former Hull star Lee Jackson. Ferres was set to discuss the venue with the amateurs today.

TXU Energi Challenge Cup Third Round Draw:

Doncaster v Redhill; Salford v Toulouse; Hull KR v Siddal; West Bowling v Batley; Gateshead v Union Treiziste Catalan; Skirlaugh v York City Knights; Swinton v Shaw Cross; Barrow v Embassy; Halton Simms Cross v London Skolars; Leigh Centurions v Locomotiv Moscow; Woolston v Dewsbury; Oulton v Sheffield; Hunslet v Pia; Oldham St Annes v Rochdale; Featherstone v Villeneuve; Whitehaven v Cottingham; Keighley v Thornhill; Chorley v Leigh Miners Rangers; Oldham v East Hull; Wath Brow v Workington.

Ties to be played on the weekend of 25/26 January 2003

Updated: 12:20 Thursday, December 19, 2002