Bulldogs set to make Cup life difficult for Dragons

The French side, bottom of Super League having not won since defeating Hull KR in March, will arrive at the unfamiliar Mount Pleasant in the quarter-final tie on Saturday evening with their hosts in confident mood.

Championship part-timers Batley, despite enduring a heavy fixture list, have found some promising form in recent weeks and have their eyes on a last four slot. And former Halifax and Great Britain prop Harrison feels the labouring Dragons are primed for a fall.

"This is our biggest match for many, many years and one we're determined to do well in," he said. "It's going to be a huge challenge to beat Super League opposition.

"They're all full-time athletes and we train twice a week but that doesn't mean we won't be ready for the occasion.

"The average age of this team is just 21 and most of them live within five miles of the ground.

"They don't know what fear is but they do know all about the history of the Challenge Cup and what winning this match would mean to Batley. No one is getting carried away with thoughts of Wembley but it's 99 years since Batley were last in a Challenge Cup semi-final and it's long overdue."

With prolific full-back Johnny Campbell, exciting loose forward Ashley Lindsay and Huddersfield Giants' centre Josh Griffin in their ranks, Batley boast some high-quality youngsters who can hurt Catalans.

Ex-England chief Harrison is urging neutral supporters to come out and help pile more pressure on the French visitors.

"We're the underdogs in the last eight and are up against the only French team left in the competition," he said. "It would be nice if as many people as possible turned out to get behind us."

Batley are offering reduced ticket prices for the game with all Super League and Championship club season ticket holders able to gain entry for just 4.99.

Sheffield Eagles entertain Keighley Cougars in tonight's televised Championship contest (7.30).

York City Knights forward Chris Clough has received a four-game ban following a dangerous "scissor fashion" tackle around the ankles of Hunslet's Waine Pryce.

Queensland took a step towards claiming a historic fifth straight State of Origin series by defeating New South Wales 28-24 in game one.

Despite a late fightback from the home side, the visitors were too strong all over the park in the five-tries-to-four victory.