Hirst ready to face some familiar foes

The prop, who joined from Batley Bulldogs last winter, is in the side for the sixth round tie at Tetley’s Stadium.

Trinity are clear favourites against their West Yorkshire neighbours, who have just one league win this season but are showing signs of improvement under new coach Neil Kelly.

Hirst, 29, said: “Dewsbury will be really up for this. I know that. Speaking from experience as a Championship player, facing a Super League team you always want to knock them off their perch.

“But I’ve been there on dual-reg’ this season, too, while Max Jowitt, Anthony Walker, Ashley Gibson and James Batchelor from Wakefield have all had games there as well.

“It is a funny one playing against players you were playing with the week before.

“I did it once at Featherstone when I went back on loan to Batley. It’s not easy. It should make for an interesting game.”

Hirst played in Rams’ 46-0 opening day loss against Rochdale Hornets and, in March, in a 48-6 home defeat to Hull KR before making his Super League debut with Wakefield against Leigh.

He has come off the bench in all but one of their next seven fixtures and Hirst, who spent three seaosns with Dewsbury from 2009 to 2011, said: “I’ve been given a shot mainly with injuries but managed to put in some decent displays.

“We’re doing really well as a team also and that helps bring everyone up. It certainly has with me.

“I am starting to find my feet now and looking forward to Friday, playing in a tough, physical game at Dewsbury.

“Each week pits you different challenges and I relish that. They’ll want to cause a shock and get a big draw. But we know this is the shortest route ever to get to a Challenge Cup final; three wins and you’re at Wembley.”