NEWSOME Panthers are hoping their rising stars can cause a major Holliday Cup final upset and cut red-hot favourites Slaithwaite Saracens down to size.

Pennine League Division I side Newsome go into Easter Monday’s showpiece Huddersfield amateur rugby league occasion at Lockwood Park (11am) against their Premier Division rivals as massive underdogs.

Slaithwaite can go into the contest in a relaxed frame of mind after beating derby rivals St Joseph’s 24-12 last weekend to secure their top-flight status.

But with the Panthers going into the contest knowing they have nothing to lose, they fully intend to relish the battle.

And with 17 of their 20-man final squad having come up through the club’s junior ranks, the proud young Panthers will be eager to put on a show.

“This is a very big day for the club and we intend to make the most of it,” said Panthers secretary Bob Linford, whose side caused a major stir by defeating Huddersfield’s other Premier Division club St Joseph’s on the way to reaching Monday’s final.

“This is the chance for our outstanding crop of young players to show exactly what they can do, and they’re really looking forward to doing just that.

“As a club, we’re proud that our junior section is flourishing and we’re now producing such a talented crop of open-age players.

“For many of them, Monday’s game will be by far the biggest they’ve ever played in, and in the Saracens we know we’re up against a top-quality side.

“But we’re confident they won’t freeze on the day and can make life really uncomfortable for their opponents.

“It’s great going into the game as such overwhelming underdogs.”

That’s a fact not lost on the top-flight Saracens, who know all the pressure will be on them and they can’t afford to take anything for granted.

“We’ll be going there on Monday ready to treat the Panthers with the utmost respect,” said Slaithwaite secretary Jonathan Fell.

“We’re well aware of what a talented young squad the Panthers possess, and we know that if we treat them lightly they’ll make us pay.

“We also know they’ve got absolutely nothing to lose and that makes them even more of a danger.

“It’s at a time like this we’ll be looking to our senior players to take the lead for us.”

Both sides are able to name full-strength squads for the eagerly-awaited contest, which is to be refereed by leading Super League linesman Tony Martin, who was last season’s Pennine League Referee of the Year.

Admission to the final is £5 for adults, £2.50 concession and free for Under 16s.

Newsome Panthers: Austin Barrowclough, Luke Brewster, Jamie Bramald, Josh Cuttell, Ben Dawson, Josh Dixon, David Downs, Tom Eidson, Danny Farrand, David Farrell, Ben Good, Tom Good, Ryan Heeley, Steve Lockwood, Dom Newton, Martin Robinson, Will Smith, Ross Studholme, James Wallace, Will Wallace

Slaithwaite Saracens: Dave Holmes, Courtney Allette, Stuart Dunbar, Ben Feehan, Richard Flooks, Gavin Dyson, Simon Birkinshaw, Tom Guinan, Damian Kenchington, Joe Fitzpatrick, Liam Tindall, Lee McAfferty, Chris Clarke, Sam Crowther, Luke Karolczuk, Martin Haigh, Kyle Dyson, Jayden Wood, Adam Warner, Mick Bostock, James Lewis.

More final build-up tomorrow.