THE odds may be stacked against National League Two York City Knights in tonight's Challenge Cup fifth round clash at holders St Helens but that is the way head coach Mick Cook likes it.

St Helens are listed at 100-1 on to cruise past York into the quarter-finals with betfair.com and expectations on the street are just as heavily weighted in Saints' favour.

He said: "It's always great when everyone's saying we haven't got a look-in.

"Everyone's anticipating and expecting a heavy Saints victory and that's the motivation for our players - can we raise our game up to a level where we can compete with these blokes?

"We are not putting too much emphasis on what the end result's going to be.

"We've just got to make sure we can hold our heads up when we come off and maybe win some respect from their fans and keep the respect of ours."

Saints, desperate to retain their trophy, are fielding a virtually full-strength team, pitching the Knights against Great Britain and Australian internationals.

Peter Fox will go head-to-head with Ade Gardner while Scott Rhodes will have to deal with the 6ft frame of pacy stand-off Jason Hooper, who finished 2004 as the Saints' top try-scorer with 20.

Winger Matt Blaymire will come face-to-face with the leading engage Super League try-scorer in Darren Albert.

Blaymire said: "It's the kind of game you always dream of playing in.

"It's a little bit daunting knowing that Albert will be on my wing but then what better way is there to test yourself than against one of the best wingers in the competition.

"Everyone's looking forward to it. They are excited and I'm sure they will be nervous by the time we get out there. But we're just going to go there and do our best and you never know what might happen in the end."

The St Helens preparations have been hit by behind-the-scenes chaos following the mysterious suspension of coach Ian Millward, who is hoping to be back at the helm by tonight.

But the Knights have also had their share of problems. Second-row Simon Friend is touch-and-go with a broken finger and Craig Forsyth has re-injured his calf virtually on the eve of a return.

But there could be a first appearance of David Bates, who returns from his doping suspension.

Cook will be directing his players to contain the fast Saints attack as much as possible with control in the ruck crucial.

Is it mission impossible? "Well, Tom Cruise accomplished that one in the film," said Cook. "It's a tough one. I think if we play to our potential, we can cause them problems. Whether we can come out on top over 80 minutes is another story.

"We just need to be tight as a unit and work hard for each other in defence."

POWERGEN CHALLENGE CUP

Fifth round at Knowsley Road

Tonight, 8pm

St Helens v York City Knights

York City Knights: Liddell, Blaymire, Potter, Law, Fox, Rhodes, Levy, Smith, Jackson, Sullivan, Friend, Kirke, Paterson. Subs from: Elston, Callaghan, Ramsden, Sozi, Bates.

St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Lyon, Gilmour, Gardner, Hooper, Long, Bennett, Cunningham, Fozzard, Wilkin, Sculthorpe, Hardman, Anderson, Mason, Higham, Roby, Edmondson, Fa'asavalu, Graham.

Referee: Colin Morris (Huddersfield)

Updated: 11:02 Friday, May 06, 2005