Cup kings New Earswick All Blacks hit the silver trail on Saturday in the Tetley's Yorkshire Cup keen to revisit their giant-killing exploits of last season.

The All Blacks became a real force to reckon with after forging an outstanding run in the GMB Union National Cup to the last 16, and joint coach Simon Baynes is keen to see more cup excitement from his side this time out.

The quest for the Yorkshire trophy starts at 2pm when largely unknown quantity Bradford Dudley Hill visit Elmpark Way.

And ready to face them will be a squad lifted by the return of six key players to a winning side desperate to keep their shirts.

Baynes is already reaching for the paracetamol. He said: "I said to the young lads who came in that if they fill their shirts they don't want to give them up. It's going to be a bit of headache.

"We won't just drop people for the sake of it if they perform well."

Jamie Rhodes (pictured below) and Chris Judge are the only two looking odds-on to feature after being unavailable last week, but Dan Wellard, Paul Raybould, Michael Harrison and Dave Carling - who re-signed for the All Blacks on Tuesday night - may have to challenge for a shirt in training before getting a chance.

All Blacks made it as far as the third round of the region-wide competition last year, losing 24-23 to a late penalty at Keighley Albion.

Bradford Dudley Hill are in the same division this year, and are also a strong side in the summer conference, but, without a game last week, they are as yet untested.

York Groves are also in Yorkshire Cup action at four divisions higher Birkenshaw.

Groves kicked their Pennine League division five campaign off with a disappointing defeat last week and are eager to set the record straight with a decent run-out against Birkenshaw.

Coach Simon Moat said: "We are going there with a totally open mind. It's a good draw for us - it's against a good, well-organised team and we really want to test ourselves."

Prop Neil Gulliver, last year's player of the year, should be available along with Paul Hagan, who has fitted in well at loose forward.

Updated: 11:28 Thursday, September 08, 2005