The mere sniff of the chance to feature in rugby league's oldest showpiece is usually enough to prompt confessions that the Cup final was one of the big lures that tempted an overseas player to pursue a career in England.

But not from Shaun Berrigan.

The man whose talents will largely dictate whether Hull can return to Wembley for the first time since they featured in arguably the greatest Challenge Cup final of all in 1985 admits to being a little surprised by the esteem in which the competition is held.

That is not to say Berrigan will not be giving his all in Sunday's semi-final against Wakefield Trinity at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster because there are few players in Super League with the same work ethic and ability as the former Australia Test hooker.

"To be honest I'd heard of the Challenge Cup, but I hadn't seen any of it at all until I came over and played my first match in the competition," said Berrigan.

"I just didn't realise how big a deal it was until I got over here and listened to the boys. They talk about it all the time and you soon realise what a special competition it is.

"It would be great to go to Wembley having seen what effect it had in the town when Hull City got there. There was a massive buzz in Hull and it would be an awesome experience to be part of that."

The 30-year-old has been Hull's most influential player in a year which has seen injuries and loss of form effectively dash their Super League play-off hopes and Berrigan accepts that Sunday represents a last chance to give the 2008 season some significance.

"We have played well in all the Challenge Cup games and hopefully that's a trend we'll continue this weekend," he said. "We had a bad start to Super League and when we lost (coach) Peter Sharp and Richard (Agar) took over he made the Challenge Cup our big goal.

"Getting to the final has always been achievable and now we're just one match away.

"We'd still like to make the play-offs, but realistically it's going to be out of our control. All our eggs are in the one basket this weekend.

"Beating Wakefield would be awesome because reaching Wembley would go a long way to repaying our supporters for the faith they've had in us all."

The return from injury of his fellow countryman Adam Dykes should see Berrigan start the semi-final in his preferred position at hooker, a welcome move for a player who has masterminded Hull's last two wins against Wakefield and Hull KR from scrum-half.

He has also played at stand-off, centre and in the back row at various points of Hull's injury-ravaged season, but a player whose versatility brought him 12 State of Origin appearances for Queensland and five Test caps insists he has not been unduly bothered by constantly being asked to reprise different roles.

"I don't mind playing at scrum-half, but I'm a lot more comfortable at No 9," he said. "It's been hard playing at No 7 because I've not had much chance to train there in midweek and I just jump in there on game days which has not been the most ideal situation. Needs must at times, though, and I'm happy to do it."

Berrigan's switch to half-back has seen his understudy Danny Houghton enjoy more first-team experience than anticipated and the exciting 19-year-old has clearly learned much from playing alongside one of rugby league's most exciting hookers.

"Danny is a great young talent, he's got a fantastic future and if I'm in the starting line on Sunday it would be nice to know that he's there to give me a breather at some stage," said Berrigan, who in the words of his coach has "run his blood to water" on occasion this season.

"Sometimes you go through stages in a game where you
forget about the need to conserve energy and go a bit silly which leaves you blowing.

"Knowing that Danny is there means I can go flat out for as long as I can."

With Hull's other hooker Tommy Lee having made an impressive comeback from injury in the Hull derby, Agar faces a tough call in choosing between him and Houghton for a place on the bench this weekend when prop Garreth Carvell, winger Gareth Raynor and centre Todd Byrne all return.