The predominance of Grade C licences may represent a terrible indictment of the general quality of club management, there might still be continued uncertainty over whether some Super League clubs can deliver the stadiums their customers deserve, and it may be impossible to escape the suspicion that two divisions of 10 in National League is a recipe for disaster, but the most pressing topic this weekend is who will win the two Challenge Cup semi-finals.

While the political machine rumbles on, Hull, Leeds, St Helens and Wakefield can be relied upon to do what rugby league clubs do best by making the most of their licences to thrill at Huddersfield and Doncaster.

Sunday's semi-final promises to be a belter for so many reasons: John Kear going up against Richard Agar, his assistant when Hull won the Cup in 2005; Hull's Challenge Cup final hero that day, Danny Brough leading Wakefield's charge on Wembley, a stadium Hull last visited in 1985, six years after Wakefield's final appearance in the shadow of the twin towers; and the whole occasion taking place so soon after the death of David Topliss, a player who meant so much to both clubs.

'Toppo', who captained both Hull and Wakefield in Challenge Cup finals, would have been left with mixed emotions come the final hooter on Sunday afternoon, but a man who lived and breathed rugby league for most of his 58 years could not fail to have been captivated by the events at Huddersfield a day earlier.

Leeds Rhinos versus St Helens is the Challenge Cup final many people wanted but the sport's two biggest clubs were denied a Wembley showdown by a semi-final draw which also disappointed the conspiracy theorists and all their talk of hot and cold balls.

The winner tomorrow will head for the final as short-odds favourites to lift the Cup, but both clubs know there is more at stake at the Galpharm Stadium than the colour of the ribbons adorning the trophy on August 30.

With just five rounds of Super League remaining, Saints top the table only on points difference from Leeds, who have recently bounced back from a mid-season wobble after being six points clear in early June.

St Helens have won their last 15 matches in some awesome form but, as Leeds know all too well from what happened at Harlequins last month, it only takes one defeat for that momentum to slip and a Rhinos victory tomorrow could have far-reaching consequences.

Should they win, Leeds would also find themselves as Cup favourites and in a position to become the first club to complete a silverware grand slam in the same calendar year because defeat could inflict lasting damage on their rivals' confidence.

By the same token, Saints know that victory would provide them with a massive psychological edge for the run-in to the play-offs, where they will meet Leeds at least once.

Both teams will be fully focused on the 80 minutes in front of them when they take to the pitch at 12.30pm, but all will be acutely aware that there is considerably more at stake than a place at Wembley.