Cardiff to host Challenge Cup final for third year in succession

Next year's Powergen Challenge Cup final - the first to be played in August - is to be staged at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Next year's Powergen Challenge Cup final - the first to be played in August - is to be staged at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The game's oldest competition moves to a later time slot in the season in 2005 and the Rugby League has announced the venue in advance in order to give supporters longer to make their plans.

It will be the third time in succession that the showpiece will be played in Cardiff. The final has also been staged at Murrayfield and Twickenham since it moved out of Wembley following the 1999 event. The plan is still for it to return to the rebuilt stadium for the 2006 final, although it remains possible that delays in re-opening Wembley could force a rethink.

In today's match, Wakefield, who are still in this season's Challenge Cup, with a quarter-final at Wigan looming next weekend, go in search of their first Super League points of the season at Salford. The Salford coach, Karl Harrison, is one of those who believe that the Wildcats should show a marked improvement this season. "They have recruited extremely well this year," he said. "They are a very big, physical team and obviously they played very well at London last week."

The good news for Harrison is that his outstanding forward, Andy Coley, has recovered from a shoulder injury and will play, although Joel Caine is likely to miss out with an ankle problem.

Tomorrow, two sides who are unbeaten so far in the Super League meet at Huddersfield, where the champions, Bradford, are the visitors and will provide a searching examination of the Giants' improvement this season.

In the other two games, two sides who have both made dreadful starts will be looking for something much better than they have managed to show so far this season. Castleford have added the Academy centre, Dean Ripley, to their squad and he could make his debut at Warrington. Ryan Sheridan is a doubt with a neck injury. The Wolves have Lee Briers, Daryl Cardiss and Paul Wood back, but Graham Appo and Chris Leikvoll will be missing.

The London Broncos, also without a win in Super League, make just one change for their trip to Hull, with Tom Haughey coming in for Lee Sanderson, who has a back strain.

In the Arriva Trains Cup, Dean Lawford, released by Widnes, makes his first appearance back at Batley, against the surprise Challenge Cup quarter-finalists from York.