YORK City Knights' Challenge Cup tie away to Skirlaugh will be played on Sunday, January 26 (kick-off 2pm) it was confirmed today.

As revealed by the Evening Press yesterday the match will be played at Hull's Boulevard ground. Skirlaugh had originally wanted the game to played on a Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Knights have been exploring the possibility of getting covers to protect the Huntington Stadium pitch ahead Sunday's friendly against Wakefield - but there are potential hitches.

The club desperately want the match to go ahead to give their players a chance to gel before their first-ever competitive game at home to Hull Kingston Rovers in the Arriva Trains Cup next weekend.

They have looked into loaning some covers to put over the pitch tomorrow night in case of overnight frost. Last week a big freeze forced last week's friendly at home to Oldham Roughyeds to be called off.

However, for any covers to work, the pitch needs to be properly thawed out first, while Knights chief executive Steve Ferres also said any cost implications of using covers would have to be taken into account.

"If we put covers on before it's totally thawed out, the covers basically protect the frost," he said.

"Also, the match is only a friendly and we have to work within our budget.

"But it is something we've been investigating and we'll be taking a good look at the pitch today."

He added: "The players are desperate to have a run-out before they play their first competitive match. "It's important we get this game on."

Updated: 12:17 Friday, January 10, 2003