BOSS Dave Woods reckons “common sense will prevail” when York City Knights and Northumbria University decide which of them Matt Garside will represent when they meet in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

As reported yesterday, the third round draw has pitted the North East institution – one of two student teams to make it through the early rounds – against the Knights, who enter the competition at this stage.

Former Gateshead Thunder youngster and student international Garside is part of the Northumbria side that got this far, but he is also a member of the Knights’ first-team squad.

The 20-year-old joked on Facebook he might enjoy “student bashing” when the sides clash on March 5 or 6.

But Garside is eligible to play for either, and, given players can turn out for an amateur outfit without becoming cup-tied for a professional club, he could also play for the university this time and the Knights in later rounds.

Woods said: “He’s got a scholarship there so they might want him, but we’ve been pretty fair with him and with them so far and I’m sure common sense will prevail.”

The tie is unlikely to be a money-spinner for the Knights but they will be huge favourites to reach round four, when Super League clubs get involved.

“It’s a handy one for us in that it gives us an opportunity to work some combinations and hopefully progress,” said Woods, who suggested he would be an angry man if his side fell foul of complacency.

“We should be beating teams like that quite easily.

“If we can’t get up for the game and play professionally and get a decent win then we’d need to look at the players we’ve got.”

Northumbria are coached by a combination of former Wakefield, Dewsbury, Featherstone and Gateshead boss, and current Ireland coach, Andy Kelly, the father of former Knight Rob Kelly, along with ex-Gateshead captain Kevin Neighbour, whom Woods coached at the Thunder.

Woods said: “Kev is just starting out in coaching and Andy Kelly knows his stuff.

“Some of their players will have semi-pro contracts but we’ll be playing young blokes and students and, the way we’ve been playing and training, we should be doing the business.”

Asked if he would pick fringe players and youngsters for the tie, Woods added: “We’ll wait until the week building up to it to see who we’ve got ready to play. There’s a chance we’d give a couple of younger blokes a run but it’s too early to say.”

The third round sees all 21 Co-operative Championship and Championship One clubs, plus French champions FC Lezignan, make their bow.

Joining them are 13 community clubs – from either the winter, summer or student scenes – and The Army, who have all come through the earlier rounds.