YORK Acorn ARLC coach Josh Mortimer has said Saturday's Coral Challenge Cup tie could make history - though Featherstone Lions are not the opponents he wanted.

The Blue and Golds host the West Yorkshire side in the third round of the prestigious old competition as they look to improve on their previous best and make it to the fourth round.

As an added incentive, the next round is the point where Betfred Championship sides enter the competition and offers a potential money-spinning tie against neighbours York City Knights - a tie which drew a crowd of 2,300 to Bootham Crescent when the sides were paired together at the third round stage in 2016, the Knights winning 66-0.

Acorn head into the fixture off the back of a disjointed 36-30 defeat at Pilkington Recs in their National Conference League division one opener.

Mortimer said: "We're obviously excited because it's a huge game and a real opportunity to get into the fourth round and make history.

"The boys are obviously excited to play as best they can. It's the biggest game of the year.

"I'm not sure I fancy (a game against the in-form Knights) but it would be good for the city. Hopefully we would get a big crowd like last time, but it's difficult to look past a result like last time.

"I'm a Featherstone Rovers fan. From a personal point of view, I would like to play Fev. We'd get a pasting though."

Of fellow NCL division one outfit Featherstone Lions, Mortimer added: "They're a good team. I would say they're very similar to us in that you don't know which team will turn up. They can play you off the field some days, and other times they'll be all over the place.

"One thing I know is it's going to be tough. It's a tough place where most of them live and, because of that, they're tough lads and they play that way.

"People said when the draw came out, 'Fev Lions - we'll pump them,' but I wouldn't say that. They're not necessarily the team I wanted to draw out.

"I wanted to play someone like (League One sides) West Wales Raiders or Coventry Bears at home as an opportunity to see if we could beat a team of semi-pros, or a team below us so we can progress to the next round.

"When I was watching the draw, there was Whitehaven, Workington, Doncaster and Hunslet left in the draw. I didn't fancy them, they would be a big ask.

"When Fev Lions came out, I was happy with the teams left, but if you'd asked me at the start, I would have said I don't want Fev Lions.

"But we've got to be confident we can beat them."

Callum Worthington, Josh Parker and Nathan Welsh could all come into contention, as well as Martin Pederson-Scott, who has impressed with the 'A' team.

Meanwhile, Heworth host Woolston Rovers looking to get off the mark in NCL division three following defeat in their opening two fixtures back in the top amateur league. Woolston sit second on points-for after winning their opening pair of games.

New Earswick All Blacks host Keighley Albion in the Yorkshire Men's League's Forty20 Cup following their 34-18 home defeat to Brighouse Rangers in their opening group game last weekend.

Acorn 'A', with their first team in Challenge Cup action, have had their Forty20 Cup fixture at East Hull postponed.