Challenge
Cup: Round Five Previews

The fifth Round of the 2006 Powergen Challenge Cup takes place this weekend. Superleague and National League One competitions have the weekend off while the final 16 teams battle for places in the Quarter Finals of this prestigous knock-out cup competition.

The pick of the eight ties will be Saturday?s match between St Helens v Bradford Bulls at Knowsley Road. It will be televised live by BBC Grandstand and is set to provide a great showcase for the competition.

The match will be a repeat of the 2001 Final at Twickenham which is fitting in the year when the decider is heading back to the famous stadium in South West London this August.

Before that game, all eyes will also be on The Willows on Friday night when Salford City Reds face Wigan Warriors in an intriguing clash. Also on Friday night, last year?s beaten finalists Leeds Rhinos entertain Rochdale Hornets at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

Elsewhere, engage Super League?s Catalans Dragons go to LHF Healthplan National League One club Widnes Vikings in what is expected to be a mighty battle of wills ? also to be shown live on BBC Sunday Grandstand on Sunday.

The Vikings have lost their last two league games while the Dragons go into the tie on the back of last Sunday?s handsome victory at Castleford Tigers.

In other matches Harlequins take on Barrow (Saturday 3pm), Huddersfield face York City Knights, Hull KR play Featherstone and Warrington entertain Whitehaven (all Sunday).

Challenge Cup Round Five Fixtures:

Fri 19 May - Salford City Reds v Wigan Warriors (ko: 8:00pm) Fri 19 May - Leeds Rhinos v Rochdale Hornets (ko: 8:00pm) Sat 20 May - Harlequins RL v Barrow Raiders (ko: 3:00pm) Sat 20 May - St Helens v Bradford Bulls (ko: 2:45) Sun 21 May - Huddersfield Giants v York City Knights (ko: 3:00pm) Sun 21 May - Widnes Vikings v Catalans Dragons (ko: 2:15pm) Sun 21 May - Hull KR v Featherstone Rovers (ko: 3:00pm) Sun 21 May - Warrington Wolves v Whitehaven (ko: 4:00pm)

Winners progress to the Quarter Finals, to be held on the weekend of June 3-4. Last year's Challenge Cup Final was won by Hull at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, however they along with Wakefield and Castleford were the only Superleague teams knocked out in this year's Fourth Round. This year's Challenge Cup Final will be played at Twickenham, as the new Wembley Stadium will not be ready on time.