York City Knights boss Mick Cook reckons tomorrow's Powergen Challenge Cup tie represents a chance for his charges to kick-start their season.

The Knights have won only twice this term, including a cup win over amateurs Elland in the last round, and began their LHF National League Two campaign with a home defeat to Swinton on Monday.

But Cook believes the trip to Boundary Park for the fourth round tie against a National League One outfit could help get their season going.

"I think we need to start ripping into teams and find the better form we had against Castleford and kick on from there," he said.

"We might not be favourites tomorrow but it's a game we can win if we get the performance right. It's going to be tough but we're looking forward to getting stuck into it. On the back of a reasonably poor-ish performance we need to get back into it and prove to ourselves we can do it for longer periods."

Cook still has problems in the outside backs. Winger Peter Fox returns after injury ruled him out on Monday but centre Calvin Watson, who filled in on the flank that day, has now gone back to Leeds after his loan term was ended.

Full-back Matt Blaymire is also out. He has not suffered broken ribs as first feared but bruising will rule him out. Utility player Jon Liddell is likely to take the number one shirt, while Dan Potter will line up against the side with whom he had a loan spell in 2003.

"It's not an ideal situation but we have to go with it," added Cook. "We can use (trialists) Lee Lingard and Paul Fairfield in the backs after this week but neither are registered for the Cup."

In better news, second-row James Ward is available. It was first reported by the Rugby Football League that Ward missed the Cup deadline after playing alongside Lingard for amateurs Sharlston against Oldham in the previous round, but the Knights have since had it confirmed he is eligible as he had already signed and so will have a second crack at the Roughyeds. Cook will also add scrum-half Chris Levy and prop Yusuf Sozi to the 17 that faced Swinton.

Oldham coach Gary Mercer has also endured injury problems, with nine players missing the 20-20 NL1 draw with Featherstone on Monday when they could only field 15 fit players. Young forwards Danny Nanyn and Mark Roberts should return while former Salford and Leigh stand-off Simon Svabic faces a late fitness test.

Players to watch include former Wigan second-row Simon Haughton.

Sunday's squads:

Powergen Challenge Cup Fourth round

Oldham v York City Knights at Boundary Park

Oldham (possible): Goddard, Dodd, Cowell, Wilkinson, Johnson, Turner, Mataora, Bibey, Hough, Wilson, Haughton, Glassie, Roberts. Subs: Gorey, Kirkland, Nanyn, Brennan.

Knights: from Liddell, Law, Potter, Kirke, Fox, Rhodes, P Thorman, Levy, Sullivan, Elston, Jackson, Sozi, Smith, Callaghan, Friend, Ward, Paterson, Buckenham, Cain.

Ref: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven)

Kick off: 3pm

Updated: 09:02 Saturday, April 02, 2005