Millward's high hopes for Leigh

Martin Offiah's Salford - a cup upset in prospect?

BBC Sport Online has full commentary of the Challenge Cup match between Leigh and Salford on a live webcast on Sunday 11 February 1345 GMT

BBC Sport's Dave Woods meets up with St Helens coach Ian Millward who believes his former club Leigh will give Salford more than a challenge.

Martin Offiah's Salford Reds are ripe for a shock cup exit at the hands of little Leigh this Sunday.

Who says? None other than former Leigh coach Ian Millward, now boss of world champions St Helens.

Millward made his name in British rugby league by taking Leigh from the doldrums to challenge for top honours in the Northern Ford Premiership, before he was head hunted by Saints.

But he still has plenty of time for his former club and says: "I can definitely see them causing an upset on Sunday."

Mighty Keighley

New Salford recruit Bobbie Goulding

Salford have recruited impressively over the winter, adding former Kangaroo Michael Hancock, Great Britain international Bobbie Goulding and powerful ex-Bradford forward Warren Jowett.

The squad already includes one of British rugby's biggest names, Martin Offiah.

But Millward says: "Leigh have got match fitness on Salford. And if the ground is wet too, that will be to their advantage.

"They've also got confidence in bundles because of the winning run they are on.

"There's a lot of passion in Leigh as well - they would really like to be in Superleague, so the fans are getting right behind them."

Since the advent of Superleague, and the top clubs all going fully professional six years ago, only four lower league clubs have won in a total of 58 meetings with Superleague clubs.

Hard heads required

The last upset came in 1997 when Keighley defeated the Halifax Blue Sox 21-8 in a fifth round tie.

Millward, though, believes Leigh have the fire-power for another rare win.

A lot of older guys will want to prove they can still hack it

  Ian Millward, Saints coach

"They bought a lot of players in the summer and they bought well," he says.

"They will need a couple of hard heads up front like David Whittle and Tim Street, and they also have a good young full back in Neil Turley.

"He's been getting great reviews and scoring lots of tries.

"A lot of older guys will want to prove they can still hack it and a lot of younger kids will want to prove they can make it.

"It was a great time in my coaching career being at Leigh, and if they win it will give me great satisfaction. I believe they can do it."

There will also be full live commentary on BBC Sport Online of the clash between St Helens and Wigan (kick off 1500 GMT) and coverage on Grandstand on Saturday 10 February.