EXCITED Huddersfield Giants are keeping their fingers crossed for a home tie in tonight's Powergen Challenge Cup fourth round draw.
It takes place at the Galpharm Stadium and will be broadcast on local radio at 7.30, with the 12 Super League clubs joining the 20 winners from this weekend's third round in an unseeded draw.
Last season the Giants reached the semi-final for the first time in 33 years, and club officials are hoping for a favourable fourth-round draw in the hope of repeating their 2004 exploits.
"There's always a great deal of excitement when you enter the draw for the first time," said Giants football manager Stuart Sheard.
"It was an amazing adventure getting to the semi-final last year, and it would be fantastic to experience something similar again this time around.
"But for now our main focus is tonight's draw, and hopefully being handed a favourable tie to keep our Cup hopes alive.
"Obviously we're looking for a home draw, and if that's what we get we'll be happy to host anyone.
"The Challenge Cup is not as big a distraction as it has been in recent years when Super League clubs entered the competition before the League programme had got under way."
Yet while all the focus this evening will be on the draw, the main priority today for head coach Jon Sharp and his squad was early preparation for Sunday's trip to Warrington Wolves.
Apart from the usual bumps and bruises picked up during Huddersfield's 34-18 top-flight triumph over Widnes Vikings on Friday, no major new injuries have been reported.
And with Sean Penkywicz (illness) and Stuart Donlan (groin) ready to return, Sharp could face a selection problem.
