Sheffield Eagles head coach Craig Lingard speaking ahead of Saturday's tie against Whitehaven said it is a "massive occasion" for the club,

"Some of our guys have played in Super League, some haven't, so having that opportunity for them is massive," Lingard told BBC Look North.

"For us as a club to generate, hopefully, some much-needed income to boost the coffers, it's absolutely massive for us.

"It's a real good occasion if you get in there and play a Super League team, to pit your wits against the best."

Lingard was previously in charge of Super League outfit Castleford Tigers.

This will be the second time the teams have played each other in seven days and a win for either side will see them take on 2025 Challenge Cup finalists Warrington Wolves in round three of the competition which takes place at the beginning of February.

Image source, Sheffield Eagles

Image source, Sheffield Eagles

BBC iPlayer

Saturday 24th January

Challenge Cup Second Round: Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven - 14:30 -16:15 GMT

Image source, Sheffield Eagles

Sheffield Eagles welcome Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup this weekend with a home tie against Super League big boys Warrington Wolves the prize for the winners.

The second-round tie at the Steel City Stadium is live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Both sides are now competing in this season's expanded Championship and actually faced each other last Sunday in the opening game of the season, with the Eagles claiming a hard-fought 11-4 victory up in Cumbria.

Whitehaven's best effort in the cup is a semi-final spot, but Sheffield famously produced one of the competition's biggest ever upsets when they defeated the mighty Wigan Warriors in the 1998 final at Wembley.

Image source, Ben challis the photographer

Image source, Ben challis the photographer