Struggling Tigers offer tricky first Cup hurdle for Rhinos

It is the sixth year running Leeds have been pitted against top-flight opponents at the first hurdle.

Bottom-placed Castleford are on a seven-game losing run with pressure increasing on their coach Ian Millward.

However, the last match they did win was against the Super League champions on February 10 and McDermott said: “We’re mindful of what happened at their place in that game.

“We know they’re a dangerous team when they want to be so we’re aware of that.

“I believe a home draw is the most important thing at this stage, though, and we are at Headingley so that is something we would have sought.

“Now we’ll crack on with it. We dearly want to win this competition.

“We’ve had a great recent history in the Challenge Cup but have just kept falling at the final hurdle against very good teams.

“We’ll give it everything to change that.”

For all their Super League superiority, Leeds have, of course, been beaten Wembley finalists in each of the last three seasons.

Warrington Wolves defeated them for a second time last year and they begin the defence of the trophy at Championship club Keighley Cougars, just as they did last April.

There is only one other all-Super League contest with Hull KR hosting St Helens, opponents the East Yorkshire club beat 22-14 at Craven Park only on Sunday.

There is an intriguing derby between Batley Bulldogs and Huddersfield Giants at Mount Pleasant, while Featherstone Rovers will fancy continuing last season’s giant-killing exploits when they visit London Broncos .

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats – whose Australian prop Justin Poore faces the disciplinary panel this evening for the red card he received at Wigan – visit newcomers Hemel Stags.

There will be at least three Championship clubs in the last 16 as six have been paired together including 1998 winners Sheffield Eagles against Dewsbury.

Fourth round draw: Wigan v Leigh; Hemel Stags v Wakefield Trinity; Hunslet v Catalan; Rochdale v Bradford; Batley v Huddersfield; Hull FC v North Wales Crusaders; Sheffield v Dewsbury; London Broncos v Featherstone; Halifax v Barrow; Widnes v Doncaster; Keighley v Warrington; Leeds v Castleford; University of Gloucestershire All Golds v Salford; York v Toulouse; Whitehaven v Workington; Hull KR v St Helens

Ties to be played over weekend of April 20-21.