HUDDERSFIELD Giants’ Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth-round trip to Hull FC is one of the favourites to be screened live by the BBC.
The clash at the KC Stadium is one of four all-Super League ties to take place over the weekend of April 13-15.
But the fact the Giants are second in the top-flight table and Hull are third makes the tie a mouth-watering prospect and, with fellow KC Stadium soccer side Hull City away that weekend, the venue would be available for the prime Saturday afternoon slot on BBC One.
The other all-Super League ties are St Helens at Widnes Vikings, last year’s runners-up Leeds Rhinos hosting Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Catalan Dragons are away to Hull KR.
All three would make for interesting viewing, although Rugby Football League chiefs may be keen for the Wakefield derby clash between Co-operative Champions Featherstone Rovers and Super League strugglers Castleford Tigers at Post Office Road to be screened instead.
But whether the Hull v Giants tie is shown or not, Huddersfield business development manager Robbie Hunter-Paul knows it should be a cracker.
"This will be the game of the round and an exciting prospect for all rugby league supporters," said Hunter-Paul, who won the cup at Wembley with Bradford and played for the Giants in the 2006 final.
"And when it comes to deciding which tie should be televised, it’s surely a ‘no brainer’ to go with the Hull-Giants game.
"It’s a clash between two sides who’ve made great starts to the season, and who’ve also slipped under the radar a little so far this year.
"But right now is two v three on the League ladder and has all the making of a cracking tie.
"Both sides like to play attacking rugby league and it should make for great viewing.
"Personally, I can’t wait for it!"
The teams will have a chance to size each other up when they meet in Super League action at the Galpharm Stadium less than a week earlier on Easter Monday.
It will be the first time the sides will have met this season, with Hull having made a rock-solid start under new coach Peter Gentle.
After drawing their opening-day home clash against Warrington Wolves 20-20 and then having their first away fixture at Catalan Dragons postponed at the last minute, the Black and Whites have hardly looked back.
They are so far unbeaten at home, having backed up that Warrington draw with wins over London Broncos, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Widnes Vikings.
They have also won at St Helens and Castleford Tigers, although they did suffer a narrow 24-22 defeat at Salford City Reds on February 24.
Champions Leeds, meanwhile, faced Super League opposition in every round en route to Wembley last season and coach Brian McDermott is delighted to be handed another tricky test.
He said: "I am pleased it is another Super League side because at that stage of the season we want that intensity of game week in, week out.
"Both ourselves and Wakefield will know each other well and we can prepare properly to face them.
"They are going well this year and Richard Agar is doing a good job with them.
"They recruited a lot of players but they are putting things together now and we know it will be a major challenge for us when that game comes around."
There will be another derby at Featherstone, who host Super League neighbours Castleford, while Wigan will begin their defence of the trophy at home to Championship One newcomers North Wales Crusaders.
Crusaders, formed from the ashes of the old Super League club at the Racecourse Ground, knocked out leading French club Toulouse in the third round in Wrexham on Saturday.
Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin said: "I don’t know a lot about them but we’ll respect them."
Warrington meet Keighley for the second successive year – they won 80-0 at home last year – but six all-Championship ties will guarantee plenty of non-Super League representation in the last 16.
