MICK Cook admits York City Knights did not get the ideal match-up in the Powergen Challenge Cup - but he hasn't ruled out their chances of pulling off a mammoth shock.

The televised fifth-round draw sends the Knights to in-form Super League side Huddersfield on May 21 in a repeat of the 2004 quarter-final. It was the Knights' ninth consecutive away draw in the Challenge Cup.

Cook said beforehand he would have liked to have faced a National League club to have a better chance of going further, adding: "It's a pretty tough draw.

"They're playing very well this year and a couple of weeks ago they beat Harlequins by 70-odd points.

"It's probably not the draw we wanted but there's not a lot we can do about it. We'll prepare for it and do our best."

The Giants won the 2004 encounter 50-12 and Cook reckoned they are a tougher proposition than then.

"Jon Sharp is a really smart coach and he's made some really good signings, like (Michael) De Vere and Robbie Paul," he said.

"They're a totally different package now, beating Super League clubs regularly and likely to get into the top six play-offs.

"But York have improved since then as well and it will be a good day for us.

"Who knows, they might play awfully and we might play out of our skins and something might happen."

The game could be a good day for the Thormans as Knights half-back Paul might go up against his brother, Chris, the England captain.

Elsewhere, the tie of the round sees St Helens face Bradford, while one National League club is guaranteed to be in the last eight as Hull KR meet Featherstone.

Cook added: "There are some Super League clubs who will go out and it could have been a good year to keep away from the big guns - if you do that you could go far and have a bit of glory."

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, April 05, 2006