CHALLENGE CUP winner Paul Broadbent has laid down the law to his players ahead of the third round tie away to amateurs Skirlaugh.

The York City Knights coach has warned his charges to take a professional attitude into tomorrow's game at the Boulevard (kick off 2pm) to help to prevent a morale-sapping shock.

Broadbent - who rates lifting the Cup as Sheffield captain in 1998, when the Eagles shocked Wigan at Wembley, as one of his two greatest playing memories - has never been on a losing side against amateur opposition and he doesn't want to start now.

"There aren't many things in sport that can be better than winning the Cup," he told the Evening Press.

"That and helping Great Britain beat Australia at Old Trafford in 1997 are the outstanding memories that I hold.

"This might only be the third round but as far as I'm concerned if the lads can't get themselves up to compete in a game like this then they don't deserve to be on professional forms.

"Professionalism is all about being consistent and raising the level of your game regardless of who the opposition is."

Although no-one can expect the Knights to go all the way this year, a good run could swell the coffers and boost confidence, while a win tomorrow would prevent them from suffering the same ignominy which befell York Wasps in 1996 and '97, when they lost to amateurs West Hull and Dudley Hill.

"Skirlaugh are a quality amateur team," added Broadbent. "I've watched them a few times and they can play the game. But I would be very disappointed if we could not go there and get a result. If we did come unstuck it would be a case of under-performing, in which case we would have to look at things."

With the move to the summer season, the Challenge Cup final is no longer the big finale it once was, while many fans now rate the Super League Grand Final as at least a comparable occasion.

However, Broadbent reckons the Challenge Cup - the most famous rugby trophy in the world - has lost none of its magic.

"The competition has still got the same prestige it has always had," he said.

"Everybody wants to be involved in the latter stages and players always raise their game.

"It's a true knockout competition, there's no second chances."

The Boulevard - the match was switched to Hull FC's old stadium as Skirlaugh deemed their own ground too small for the clash - should hold no fears for 34-year-old Broadbent, who spent two years there with Hull. "I've got some good memories of the place," he said.

"When playing there for Hull you always had good vocal support, but if you were going there with the opposition team it could be a hostile environment.

"They are very passionate about their rugby in Hull and I'm sure they will turn out in force to support their local team. But our guys have to go there with a single-minded approach to the job in hand."

Broadbent makes only one change to the 17 on duty last week, with trialist Jermaine Coleman getting his chance to impress while Carl Stannard drops out. One other likely change sees prop David Bolus start on the bench with Leeds loanee Damien Kennedy starting in the front row.

New loan recruit Tommy Gallagher was not signed inside the Cup deadline so will not be considered, but Mark Cain is set to take his place despite suffering bruising to the hand last week.

Knights (probable): Beever, Godfrey, Hallas, Smith, Molloy, Cain, Krause, Kennedy, Jackson, Hayes, Ramsden, Fletcher, Callaghan. Subs: Yeaman, Lloyd, Bolus, Coleman.

Updated: 10:55 Saturday, January 25, 2003