YOU never know what will happen. That was the message from Elland coach Junaid Malik ahead of his side's visit to Huntington Stadium for Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup tie against York City Knights.

The Halifax amateurs, who gave up home advantage after failing to switch the tie to nearby National League ground The Shay, will be massive underdogs for the third round clash, but Malik has warned they are not just coming for the pay-day.

"You never know, it's a cup game and it's what happens on the day," he said.

"If we approach the game with the right attitude and put the work in, you can sometimes get the result."

The young coach - Malik is only 25 - took the reins at Elland alongside player-assistant Lee Shackleton after Carl Fairbank, the ex-Bradford and Great Britain star, took charge of Halifax's Under-21s.

His comments, however, are not based on youthful brashness but more an underdog's enthusiasm.

"It happens in cup ties and it has happened before with amateur teams against professional teams," added the BARLA Great Britain and Yorkshire stand-off, who has had to sit out this season after knee reconstruction.

His side will be no mugs. They have been champions of the Pennine League for the last five years and also have an excellent cup pedigree, having won the amateur Yorkshire Cup twice in the last three years, being beaten finalists this season.

Elland are not new to this stage of the Challenge Cup, their previous venture coming only last year when they lost 60-6 at National League One champions elect Leigh, being overwhelmed only in the second half.

Malik added: "Some of our younger players were overawed a bit, but that experience will have helped and hopefully they'll apply themselves a bit better. I think our team is fitter as well this year and if it's still pretty close towards the end then you never know."

Elland beat NL3 amateurs Essex Eels 44-12 in the first round and then won 14-10 at Barrow Island. Andy Schickell scored four tries in the first game while winger Steve Brocklehurst and goalkicker Adam Oldroyd - son of BARLA chairman Maurice Oldroyd - are other dangermen.

Malik, though, reckoned their forwards - including Hunslet Hawks-bound brothers Andy and Mark Schickell - hold the key. "We've got a pretty strong pack. They will keep taking it up all day and if they play well the team plays well."

Elland are expecting to bring up to 500 fans tomorrow.

Malik said: "The crowd was just short of 2,000 at Leigh last year and we took a couple of coach-loads. We're quite well-supported and reckon about 400 to 500 will be coming with us."

The fourth round draw is on Monday, 7.30pm, on Radio 5Live.

Challenge Cup teams

Powergen Challenge Cup round three

Elland ARLC v York City Knights

(at Huntington Stadium, York)

Elland: Taylor, Brocklehurst, Bishop, Fairbank, Holmes, H Bailey, Oldroyd, M Schickell, Shaw, M Bailey, Chapman, A Schickell, Shackleton. Subs: Gray, Walton, Wood, Horsfall.

Knights: Blaymire, Fox, Watson, Callaghan, Ross, Paterson, P Thorman, Sullivan, Elston, Buckenham, Smith, Kirke, Cain.

Subs: Rhodes, Jackson, Sozi, Forsyth.

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington). Kick off: 3pm

Updated: 10:10 Saturday, March 12, 2005