The Super League takes a break this week as the 14 teams enter the Challenge Cup at the fourth round stage with 16 games over the course of a four day weekend.
The round begins tomorrow in an all Super League tie between Hull FC and Salford who ironically only met just under a week ago with in the league with Hull coming out on top 30-8. Salford will be eager to right the wrongs of last Friday while hoping to have a good run in the competition as they bid to fulfil Dr Koukash's ambitions. Hull will be without Horne and Crooks with Paea and Carvell returning while Ashurst and Howarth return for Salford.
Hull - Arundel, Carvell, Colbon, Hadley, Heremaia, Houghton, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Pitts, Rankin, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Tuson, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Salford - Matty Ashurst, Rangi Chase, Theo Fages, Martin Gleeson, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Stuart Howarth, Greg Johnson, Tommy Lee, Shannon McPherson, Francis Meli, Adrian Morley, Jake Mullaney, Tony Puletua, S Rapira, Junior Sa’u, Tim Smith, Lama Tasi, Jordan Walne.
Despite the one-sided league game, I feel Salford will turn it around from Friday and deal an early blow to last season's runners-up so Hull 26 Salford 28.
Friday night sees two games with the highlight being holders Wigan travelling to face Championship side Dewsbury who have had a good start to the season sitting fourth in the table. Wigan have extensive knowledge of their opponents with four Warriors facing the Rams at the weekend for Workington on dual-reg but Wigan will not underestimate their hosts as they have selected a strong side as they pursue a second consecutive title.
Dewsbury will look to spring a massive shock but know that Wigan can be unhinged as Featherstone showed in 2012 as the Rovers led twice before going on to lose 32-16 and as always with the competition anything can happen.
Dewsbury - TBC
Wigan - 25 John Bateman, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 16 Gil Dudson, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake Green, 26 Ryan Hampshire, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 13 Sean O'Loughlin, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 27 George Williams.
Shocks can happen but this will not be one I feel so Dewsbury 6 Wigan 60
The draw that many smaller clubs wanted to avoid was a long trip to Catalan but that has been handed to London as the sides meet in Friday's second game. London will be looking to end their horrific start to the season which sees them without a win in seven games but will take confidence from the fact that they were semi-finalists last season while having a struggling squad.
Catalan themselves have only one win in seven but came close this week at Wigan and will hope to repeat their heroics of 2007 when they reached the final before losing to St Helens and their home advantage does harm a lot of teams and could do against their fellow strugglers.
Catalan Dragons - Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Maria, Pelissier, Millard, Pala, Bousquet, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Garcia, Guasch.
London Broncos - Bishay, Caton-Brown, Cook, Drinkwater, Farrar, Foster, Greenwood, Griffin, Krasniqi, Macani, McMeeken, Minns, Moore, O'Callaghan, Slyney, Solomona, Vea, Wallace, Woodburn-Hall.
London need something to boost their season but I feel it may not come this week so Catalan 30 London 18.
Saturday sees only one game as Championship side Sheffield Eagles host Championship One side London Skolars with the hosts currently sitting sixth in the table with three wins from five while the Skolars are winless from their opening three games.
Sheffield will be remembered by many for what is still the biggest shock in Cup final history as they beat Wigan in 1998 but despite the long gap, they are still a big side having won the last two Championship Grand Finals and are hopeful of a Super League place after the restructuring of 2015.
Skolars despite having a bad start to the season have a fresh start in the competition after receiving a bye into the fourth round and will hope to cause a shock against the Eagles while drawing on their success from 2013 that saw them finish fourth in Champ One.
Sheffield look to strong for the Skolars and even the thought of a shock seems slim so Eagles 30 Skolars 12.
Sunday sees the remaining 12 games with some mouth-watering ties but the place to start is with the TV game of Huddersfield and St Helens with the visitors currently on a perfect run in 2014 with seven wins placing them atop the Super League table with the Giants having a mixed start with recent losses to Catalan and Warrington.
Huddersfield's last success in the competition came in 2009 when they reached the final before losing to Warrington but they are well known in recent years for having problems when it comes to knock-out rugby with failing in the yearly Super League play-offs including on the back of their League Leaders Shield success of 2013 so an improvement is needed on that front.
St Helens themselves are on a mixed run in this competition having not reached the final since 2008 which saw a run of three titles come to an end and bowed out in this round last year to Hull KR so will be hoping to go at least one further as they look for a return to their successes of the 2000's.
Saints are on amazing run and I see it continuing into the Cup so Huddersfield 24 St Helens 30.
The second of three Sunday Super League battles sees Hull KR host Warrington with Rovers hoping to cause a shock in the fourth round for a second successive year while extending their winning run to three in a row this season while Warrington will draw on their recent success in the competition which has seen three titles in five seasons.
The two sides meet in the league next week and KR would love to go to the HJ stadium on the back of a win against the Wolves for a second year in a row after a 26-12 win in 2013 and are a side that can sometimes be an unknown quantity as Huddersfield and Wigan found out recently.
Warrington suffered a loss to KR's city rivals Hull FC in last years semi final and would love to get some revenge on the city with a win which would boost them for the following league game as well as giving a boost to their mixed season so far.
This one I think could see a shock so a gamble with Hull KR 24 Warrington 22.
The third all Super League meeting sees a Yorkshire derby between Wakefield and Leeds with the Rhinos looking to bounce back from last weeks loss at St Helens ending their unbeaten start to 2014 while Wakefield will hope to also get back to winning ways after mauling away to Hull KR.
This competition has been cruel to Leeds in recent years as despite reaching the final from 2010-2012 they lost all three, twice to Warrington and once to Wigan so are eager to get back to Wembley and to win a first title since 1999.
Wakefield will look to avenge the last time the sides met in the Cup when they lost 38-18 two years ago in this round which saw Leeds go on to lose in the final and have been strong this season despite only two wins as they have led against both Wigan and St Helens so can compete with the top sides.
I see a tight one here but I'm going with my heart and saying Wakefield 23 Leeds 22.
Another Yorkshire derby sees Championship side Batley host Super League side Castleford with both having good starts to 2014 with Batley bouncing back from last season's Grand Final loss with three wins from six while their local rivals have won six from seven with the blot being a loss to Salford.
This game is on Sunday as the hosts are neighbours to Dewsbury and as such have fans that watch both sides who will hope for a duo of shocks with this a bit likelier given Wigan are the holders with Castleford looking to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2011 which resulted in them losing in extra time in the semi final to Leeds who knocked them out at this stage last year.
They will also be wary of a shock as they suffered a fourth round defeat two years ago away to Featherstone so Batley will maybe use that as a way of confidence.
No shock here for me as I see Cas having a good run in the competition so Batley 12 Castleford 44.
Bradford will look to improve their start to 2014 when they host Championship One side Oldham who have two wins from their opening three games and will look for what would be the shock of the round in travelling to a side two divisions above them.
Bradford's off field problems seem to have derailed their season with only two wins from seven games and will hope their bad luck doesn't see them humiliated at the hands of Oldham and will hope for a big win that will boost their hopes of Super League survival.
Bradford to get a win and end a torrid run so far this season so Bradford 50 Oldham 12.
The final Super League featured tie sees Widnes travel to face Championship side Halifax, a side that will live in the memories of Super League fans from their days as the Halifax Blue Sox and whose last real success in this competition saw them come only a point away from reaching the last eight in 2009 in defeat to Castleford.
Widnes have a long history of success in the competition with seven titles to their name but all done in their halcyon days with the last coming back in 1984 so will be eager to renew that success while looking to reach the fifth round for a second successive year while 'Fax will look to make it three years in a row.
This could be a close one as both sides are on good form this season but I say Widnes to come out on top so Widnes 36 Halifax 18.
The remaining six ties feature three all Championship meetings and I will begin with Leigh travelling to face Rochdale which sees bottom against top in the league, Leigh bowed out to neighbours Wigan in this round last year but reached the last eight in 2012 before exiting at the hands of Leeds and would love to repeat that run as they look to finish top of the Championship.
The Centurions have a perfect record so far this season with six wins in the league and a win over Wigan St Patricks in the previous round while their hosts have only one win from five in the league but come into this game buoyant after a 76-4 win over Gloucestershire in round three.
This one I see going true to form with Leigh remaining unbeaten so Leigh 40 Rochdale 18.
Featherstone will host the North Wales Crusaders looking for a second win in four weeks against the Welsh side after a 36-6 win in the league meeting and will hope to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2012 when they battled to a loss against Wigan and make their debut this year after a bye into the fourth round.
The Crusaders will hope to avoid a hammering having been dumped out in this round in the last two years most spectacularly by Wigan in 2012 losing 98-4 and a win would see them carry the boost the Welsh represenation in the competition.
Featherstone are a side that could do well this year with so many Super League teams facing each other at this stage and I expect them to win so Featherstone 36 North Wales 12.
The third all Championship meeting sees Keighley host Barrow with the Cougars in the best form with three wins from six and a 42-0 win in round three while the Raiders have only a single league win to their name but with only a narrow in in the previous round.
Both sides exited at this round last year suffering heavy defeats so will take the chance to advance very seriously and it should make for an exciting game.
Going with form on this one so saying Keighley 24 Barrow 12.
The final three ties are a mix of the Championship and Championship One beginning with York hosting Swinton with the latter being the higher ranked side but with only one win from six along with a 66-6 win in the previous round over Gateshead.
Their hosts are unbeaten in the league with three wins from three coupled with a narrow in over Whitehaven in round three and will look to cause a shock while reaching the fifth round for a second succesive season, exiting last year heavily to Catalan while Swinton will be look to go two further than 2013 having exited at the third round stage.
This one I cannot call at all and it's a shame I can't say a draw so will saw Swinton 19 York 18
Workington travel to face Championship leaders Hunslet who have won three from four and crushed Oxford in the previous round while the visitors have two wins to their name and won comfortably at Normanton in round three.
Workington may be without their usual dual-reg players from Wigan but I see them coming out on top here in a close knit game so Hunslet 18 Workington 24.
The final tie but certianly not the least sees Doncaster host Championship side Hemel Stags with both sides doing well this season with the hosts boasting four wins from six and Hemel two wins from four games. Both sides had good wins in round three with Hemel beating South Wales and Doncaster thumping the British Army.
They both exited at this stage last year so will look to go one better this year with the hosts being the favourites based on their league position. Two sides I don't know a lot about means it is hard to do an accurate prediction so I am going with form and saying Doncaster 38 Hemel 18.
The round begins tomorrow in an all Super League tie between Hull FC and Salford who ironically only met just under a week ago with in the league with Hull coming out on top 30-8. Salford will be eager to right the wrongs of last Friday while hoping to have a good run in the competition as they bid to fulfil Dr Koukash's ambitions. Hull will be without Horne and Crooks with Paea and Carvell returning while Ashurst and Howarth return for Salford.
Hull - Arundel, Carvell, Colbon, Hadley, Heremaia, Houghton, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Pitts, Rankin, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Tuson, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Salford - Matty Ashurst, Rangi Chase, Theo Fages, Martin Gleeson, Harrison Hansen, Gareth Hock, Stuart Howarth, Greg Johnson, Tommy Lee, Shannon McPherson, Francis Meli, Adrian Morley, Jake Mullaney, Tony Puletua, S Rapira, Junior Sa’u, Tim Smith, Lama Tasi, Jordan Walne.
Despite the one-sided league game, I feel Salford will turn it around from Friday and deal an early blow to last season's runners-up so Hull 26 Salford 28.
Friday night sees two games with the highlight being holders Wigan travelling to face Championship side Dewsbury who have had a good start to the season sitting fourth in the table. Wigan have extensive knowledge of their opponents with four Warriors facing the Rams at the weekend for Workington on dual-reg but Wigan will not underestimate their hosts as they have selected a strong side as they pursue a second consecutive title.
Dewsbury will look to spring a massive shock but know that Wigan can be unhinged as Featherstone showed in 2012 as the Rovers led twice before going on to lose 32-16 and as always with the competition anything can happen.
Dewsbury - TBC
Wigan - 25 John Bateman, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 16 Gil Dudson, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake Green, 26 Ryan Hampshire, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 13 Sean O'Loughlin, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 27 George Williams.
Shocks can happen but this will not be one I feel so Dewsbury 6 Wigan 60
The draw that many smaller clubs wanted to avoid was a long trip to Catalan but that has been handed to London as the sides meet in Friday's second game. London will be looking to end their horrific start to the season which sees them without a win in seven games but will take confidence from the fact that they were semi-finalists last season while having a struggling squad.
Catalan themselves have only one win in seven but came close this week at Wigan and will hope to repeat their heroics of 2007 when they reached the final before losing to St Helens and their home advantage does harm a lot of teams and could do against their fellow strugglers.
Catalan Dragons - Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Maria, Pelissier, Millard, Pala, Bousquet, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Garcia, Guasch.
London Broncos - Bishay, Caton-Brown, Cook, Drinkwater, Farrar, Foster, Greenwood, Griffin, Krasniqi, Macani, McMeeken, Minns, Moore, O'Callaghan, Slyney, Solomona, Vea, Wallace, Woodburn-Hall.
London need something to boost their season but I feel it may not come this week so Catalan 30 London 18.
Saturday sees only one game as Championship side Sheffield Eagles host Championship One side London Skolars with the hosts currently sitting sixth in the table with three wins from five while the Skolars are winless from their opening three games.
Sheffield will be remembered by many for what is still the biggest shock in Cup final history as they beat Wigan in 1998 but despite the long gap, they are still a big side having won the last two Championship Grand Finals and are hopeful of a Super League place after the restructuring of 2015.
Skolars despite having a bad start to the season have a fresh start in the competition after receiving a bye into the fourth round and will hope to cause a shock against the Eagles while drawing on their success from 2013 that saw them finish fourth in Champ One.
Sheffield look to strong for the Skolars and even the thought of a shock seems slim so Eagles 30 Skolars 12.
Sunday sees the remaining 12 games with some mouth-watering ties but the place to start is with the TV game of Huddersfield and St Helens with the visitors currently on a perfect run in 2014 with seven wins placing them atop the Super League table with the Giants having a mixed start with recent losses to Catalan and Warrington.
Huddersfield's last success in the competition came in 2009 when they reached the final before losing to Warrington but they are well known in recent years for having problems when it comes to knock-out rugby with failing in the yearly Super League play-offs including on the back of their League Leaders Shield success of 2013 so an improvement is needed on that front.
St Helens themselves are on a mixed run in this competition having not reached the final since 2008 which saw a run of three titles come to an end and bowed out in this round last year to Hull KR so will be hoping to go at least one further as they look for a return to their successes of the 2000's.
Saints are on amazing run and I see it continuing into the Cup so Huddersfield 24 St Helens 30.
The second of three Sunday Super League battles sees Hull KR host Warrington with Rovers hoping to cause a shock in the fourth round for a second successive year while extending their winning run to three in a row this season while Warrington will draw on their recent success in the competition which has seen three titles in five seasons.
The two sides meet in the league next week and KR would love to go to the HJ stadium on the back of a win against the Wolves for a second year in a row after a 26-12 win in 2013 and are a side that can sometimes be an unknown quantity as Huddersfield and Wigan found out recently.
Warrington suffered a loss to KR's city rivals Hull FC in last years semi final and would love to get some revenge on the city with a win which would boost them for the following league game as well as giving a boost to their mixed season so far.
This one I think could see a shock so a gamble with Hull KR 24 Warrington 22.
The third all Super League meeting sees a Yorkshire derby between Wakefield and Leeds with the Rhinos looking to bounce back from last weeks loss at St Helens ending their unbeaten start to 2014 while Wakefield will hope to also get back to winning ways after mauling away to Hull KR.
This competition has been cruel to Leeds in recent years as despite reaching the final from 2010-2012 they lost all three, twice to Warrington and once to Wigan so are eager to get back to Wembley and to win a first title since 1999.
Wakefield will look to avenge the last time the sides met in the Cup when they lost 38-18 two years ago in this round which saw Leeds go on to lose in the final and have been strong this season despite only two wins as they have led against both Wigan and St Helens so can compete with the top sides.
I see a tight one here but I'm going with my heart and saying Wakefield 23 Leeds 22.
Another Yorkshire derby sees Championship side Batley host Super League side Castleford with both having good starts to 2014 with Batley bouncing back from last season's Grand Final loss with three wins from six while their local rivals have won six from seven with the blot being a loss to Salford.
This game is on Sunday as the hosts are neighbours to Dewsbury and as such have fans that watch both sides who will hope for a duo of shocks with this a bit likelier given Wigan are the holders with Castleford looking to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2011 which resulted in them losing in extra time in the semi final to Leeds who knocked them out at this stage last year.
They will also be wary of a shock as they suffered a fourth round defeat two years ago away to Featherstone so Batley will maybe use that as a way of confidence.
No shock here for me as I see Cas having a good run in the competition so Batley 12 Castleford 44.
Bradford will look to improve their start to 2014 when they host Championship One side Oldham who have two wins from their opening three games and will look for what would be the shock of the round in travelling to a side two divisions above them.
Bradford's off field problems seem to have derailed their season with only two wins from seven games and will hope their bad luck doesn't see them humiliated at the hands of Oldham and will hope for a big win that will boost their hopes of Super League survival.
Bradford to get a win and end a torrid run so far this season so Bradford 50 Oldham 12.
The final Super League featured tie sees Widnes travel to face Championship side Halifax, a side that will live in the memories of Super League fans from their days as the Halifax Blue Sox and whose last real success in this competition saw them come only a point away from reaching the last eight in 2009 in defeat to Castleford.
Widnes have a long history of success in the competition with seven titles to their name but all done in their halcyon days with the last coming back in 1984 so will be eager to renew that success while looking to reach the fifth round for a second successive year while 'Fax will look to make it three years in a row.
This could be a close one as both sides are on good form this season but I say Widnes to come out on top so Widnes 36 Halifax 18.
The remaining six ties feature three all Championship meetings and I will begin with Leigh travelling to face Rochdale which sees bottom against top in the league, Leigh bowed out to neighbours Wigan in this round last year but reached the last eight in 2012 before exiting at the hands of Leeds and would love to repeat that run as they look to finish top of the Championship.
The Centurions have a perfect record so far this season with six wins in the league and a win over Wigan St Patricks in the previous round while their hosts have only one win from five in the league but come into this game buoyant after a 76-4 win over Gloucestershire in round three.
This one I see going true to form with Leigh remaining unbeaten so Leigh 40 Rochdale 18.
Featherstone will host the North Wales Crusaders looking for a second win in four weeks against the Welsh side after a 36-6 win in the league meeting and will hope to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2012 when they battled to a loss against Wigan and make their debut this year after a bye into the fourth round.
The Crusaders will hope to avoid a hammering having been dumped out in this round in the last two years most spectacularly by Wigan in 2012 losing 98-4 and a win would see them carry the boost the Welsh represenation in the competition.
Featherstone are a side that could do well this year with so many Super League teams facing each other at this stage and I expect them to win so Featherstone 36 North Wales 12.
The third all Championship meeting sees Keighley host Barrow with the Cougars in the best form with three wins from six and a 42-0 win in round three while the Raiders have only a single league win to their name but with only a narrow in in the previous round.
Both sides exited at this round last year suffering heavy defeats so will take the chance to advance very seriously and it should make for an exciting game.
Going with form on this one so saying Keighley 24 Barrow 12.
The final three ties are a mix of the Championship and Championship One beginning with York hosting Swinton with the latter being the higher ranked side but with only one win from six along with a 66-6 win in the previous round over Gateshead.
Their hosts are unbeaten in the league with three wins from three coupled with a narrow in over Whitehaven in round three and will look to cause a shock while reaching the fifth round for a second succesive season, exiting last year heavily to Catalan while Swinton will be look to go two further than 2013 having exited at the third round stage.
This one I cannot call at all and it's a shame I can't say a draw so will saw Swinton 19 York 18
Workington travel to face Championship leaders Hunslet who have won three from four and crushed Oxford in the previous round while the visitors have two wins to their name and won comfortably at Normanton in round three.
Workington may be without their usual dual-reg players from Wigan but I see them coming out on top here in a close knit game so Hunslet 18 Workington 24.
The final tie but certianly not the least sees Doncaster host Championship side Hemel Stags with both sides doing well this season with the hosts boasting four wins from six and Hemel two wins from four games. Both sides had good wins in round three with Hemel beating South Wales and Doncaster thumping the British Army.
They both exited at this stage last year so will look to go one better this year with the hosts being the favourites based on their league position. Two sides I don't know a lot about means it is hard to do an accurate prediction so I am going with form and saying Doncaster 38 Hemel 18.
25
John Bateman, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 16 Gil
Dudson, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake
Green, 26 Ryan Hampshire, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 13 Sean
O'Loughlin, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8
Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 27 George Williams
Read more at http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9186&type=1#PUVdsaU1QHfJRWx6.99
Read more at http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9186&type=1#PUVdsaU1QHfJRWx6.99
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