Round Four of the Betfred Challenge Cup gets underway this weekend and here is a look at all eight cup ties taking place.
The magic of the cup continues with five Betfred Championship teams remaining, who have all been drawn away against Betfred Super League opposition.
With quarter-final places at stake and the competition already down to the last 16 teams, the Road to Wembley on Saturday 7 June is well and truly on. But who will be up for the cup?
Two Fourth Round ties will be televised, starting with a blockbuster clash between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos which will be streamed live on The Sportsman on Friday evening.
It’s a heavyweight tie with two sides both rich in history where the Challenge Cup is concerned, and this therefore promises to be a showpiece event.
Leeds are 14 times Challenge Cup winners, with St Helens closely behind on 13. They are both recent winners of the competition – the Rhinos lifting the trophy in 2020 and Saints doing the same the following year.
But the Challenge Cup has arguably been a piece of elusive silverware for these two sides in recent decades – with the Rhinos experiencing a gap between 1999 and 2014, and similarly, St Helens between 2008 and 2021. It is a trophy meaning so much to both sides, but who will want it more on the night?
The two teams have faced each other 22 times in the Challenge Cup history - both winning 11 ties apiece. Their most cup meeting came in the Sixth Round last year, with Saints securing a 6-20 victory.
As the second consecutive year when the teams have met in the last 16, Leeds will certainly be aiming for revenge of that 2024 defeat.
The two other ties taking place on Friday night are Salford Red Devils v Bradford Bulls and Hull KR v Oldham.
Brian Noble’s Bulls will be hoping to cause another cup upset in 2025, having already knocked out Super League’s Castleford Tigers in the previous round.
Their encounter with the Tigers went down to the wire, before Bradford sealed an exhilarating 18-16 win in memorable fashion.
Bradford last lifted the Challenge Cup in 2003 – in what was their treble-winning year and notably, under Noble’s tenure.
Having booked their place in the Fourth Round in 2025, they shouldn’t be underestimated and will look to push Salford all the way.
Likewise, Oldham will be up for the challenge when they travel to East Hull to face 2023 Finalists Hull KR.
Sean Long's men have the toughest of tests when they face Willie Peters’ unbeaten Robins side - although many will remember when the Roughyeds scored a famous win at Sewell Group Craven Park back in the 2016 Challenge Cup.
Oldham came away with a 22-36 victory against a Hull KR side that included Kieran Dixon and Iain Thornley. The pair now form part of a hungry Roughyeds squad looking for another big performance and are both set to feature at the weekend.
On Saturday, BBC Sport will roll back the years to the famous 1985 Challenge Cup Final between Wigan and Hull FC with coverage of their Fourth Round tie.
There’s been 18 cup meetings between the two sides in history, including four Challenge Cup finals (1959, 1985, 2013 and 2017).
Current holders, Wigan, look to be a dominant force once again in 2025 and will continue their mission to retain the coveted trophy.
At The Brick Community Stadium, the Warriors have won their last seven home meetings with Hull FC.
It’s going to be a difficult task for the Black & Whites, but they have produced some inspiring performances under John Cartwright so far, so we should expect a bruising battle.
The visitors will also be hoping to right their wrongs from Round 2 of Super League, for that's when they were heavily beaten by Wigan.
Also on Saturday, a rivalry will be renewed between Widnes Vikings and Warrington Wolves.
The highly anticipated Cheshire Derby is set to have a bumper crowd in attendance at the DCBL Stadium this weekend, as these two sides meet for the first time since 2018.
There will be no love lost as the teams lock horns, but will it be the Vikings who pull off a sensational cup shock, or can the Wolves return to Wembley for a second successive year?
They last faced one another in the Challenge Cup back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
2016 saw a closely contested quarter-final, in which the Wolves pipped a 20-18 victory in the dying minutes and went on to be that year's finalists.
Warrington then would win a little bit more convincingly in the 2017 Sixth Round against Widnes - 34-20.
But what will happen on the Vikings' home turf?
Then, Featherstone will make the trip to face Catalans Dragons in the south of France.
In 2015, they pushed the Dragons all the way at Stade Gilbert Brutus in a high-scoring cup match, but were eventually defeated 37-34.
And Catalans will be boosted by their first league win last Saturday as they embark on claiming a second Challenge Cup trophy in their history.
But let's not forget how Halifax Panthers came excruciatingly close in their Third Round tie against the Dragons, competing with them until the death.
What can Fev produce in Round 4?
Sunday then sees Huddersfield Giants host Wakefield Trinity. The Giants are still searching for their first win of 2025 and will be hoping that a decent cup run can give them some well-needed confidence and momentum.
A fired up Trinity, on the other hand, will be eyeing up a recreation of what Leigh Leopards have achieved – back-to-back Wembley finals; from AB Sundecks 1895 Cup winners to Challenge Cup finalists/winners.
West Yorkshire's Huddersfield and Wakefield haven't met since 2023 and are rather familiar with playing cup matches at the John Smith's Stadium, having met there in the 2016 and 2018 competitions.
Finally, 2024 winners Leigh Leopards will then welcome inaugural winners Batley Bulldogs in a tasty tie. They haven't crossed paths since 2022 in the Championship Grand Final.
At this point in the Challenge Cup last year, Leigh were tested against Featherstone, whilst Batley nearly overcame Castleford.
Will there be a close contest in this particular Super League versus Championship tie?
What action will unfold in Round 4? Expected the Unexpected in the Betfred Challenge Cup!
Betfred Challenge Cup Round 4 fixtures:
Friday 14 March
St Helens v Leeds Rhinos (K.O. 8pm) – live on The Sportsman
Salford Red Devils v Bradford Bulls (K.O. 8pm)
Hull KR v Oldham (K.O. 8pm)
Saturday 15 March
Widnes Vikings v Warrington Wolves (K.O. 5pm)
Wigan Warriors v Hull FC (K.O. 5.45pm) - live on BBC Sport
Catalans Dragons v Featherstone Rovers (K.O. 6pm)
Sunday 16 March
Huddersfield Giants v Wakefield Trinity (K.O. 3pm)
Leigh Leopards v Batley Bulldogs (K.O. 3pm)
Quarter Final draw details will be confirmed shortly.
Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!
