Kelly expects cup shocks

Bradford's Spruce is unable to stop Saints' star Joynt

Nine Northern Ford Premiership clubs take on Super League opposition in the fourth round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup this weekend.

And Neil Kelly, boss of NFP champions Dewsbury, is expecting a couple of giant-killers to go through with them to the last 16.

Of 58 inter-divisional clashes since the advent of the Super League in 1996, there have been only four upsets and none in the last three seasons.

But Kelly, NFP coach of the year in 1998 and 2000, believes teams at the top end of the table are capable of holding their own against some of the lesser lights of the Super League.

"Recent results tend to indicate that the gap is getting bigger," he said.

Will the Super League teams prove unstoppable?

"But I still feel as though you go into those games with romantic ideas of pulling off a shock."

Leigh Centurions, the undefeated NFP leaders, look to have the best chance of springing a surprise as they take on Salford at Hilton Park.

But Keighley and Dewsbury also have home advantage, against Hull and Castleford respectively.

Super League duo Wakefield and Halifax face tricky Cumbrian challenges, at Workington and Barrow.

And London Broncos, Huddersfield and holders Bradford Bulls should make home advantage tell against Batley, Featherstone and Widnes.

First hurdle

But NFP teams are battle-hardened, having been playing matches for more than two months.

"If we can get at least two or three through to the next round, it will prove we are going places," said Kelly.

The draw for the first hurdle of the game's prestigious knockout competition drew gasps from the assembled audience.

Two of Super League's big four will come face-to-face on Saturday.

Chris Joynt plans to steer newly-crowned world champions St Helens past arch-rivals Wigan at Knowsley Road.

Everybody wants to take our scalp

  St Helens' Keiron Cunningham

The Saints will once more be looking to Joynt's leadership as they seek to maintain their upper hand over Frank Endacott's men.

"We've got a lot of leaders in our side but with Chris he doesn't just say it, he does it," said hooker Keiron Cunningham.

"He works so hard every game and you cannot help but work for him."

"It would be nice to see him getting Man of Steel. He really does deserve something like that."

But fresh from their World Club Challenge triumph against the Brisbane Broncos, Cunningham knows that they are marked men.

"There was enough pressure winning the Super League title and now everybody wants to take our scalp."