McNally and Vowles put fear into Castleford

The Russians and – with one exception – the French have come and gone. It is time next weekend for the Powergen Challenge Cup to reassert itself as Britain's most high-profile competition.

The cup's history, plus its exposure on terrestrial television, make it still the trophy that the public knows and cares most about. Five Super League clubs with ambitions to tap into that start their quest on Saturday.

With the BBC televising two matches live, the dubious privilege of the early start goes to Wakefield and Castleford, who contest a local derby at Belle Vue.

Last season, this would have seemed a foregone conclusion, with Cas in the top six and Wakefield struggling against relegation. But Trinity could perhaps have found some stability under the coaching partnership of Shane McNally and Adrian Vowles, and their squad looks stronger than last year's.

They sprang a surprise when they beat Widnes at this fourth-round stage last year, while Cas have earned a reputation as slow starters and the jury is out on whether they are better equipped than they were in 2002.

Bradford go to Warrington determined not to bow out early, as they did last time. The Bulls have pushed the cup higher up their priorities and will be wary on a ground where they have suffered some surprising defeats.

It won't quite be the same Bradford this season. One of their "Awesome Foursome" of props, Brian McDermott, has retired, while Nathan McAvoy has gone to Saracens and Brandon Costin to Huddersfield. Against that, two players for whom they have high hopes, Shontayne Hape and Karl Pratt, will be making their competitive debuts.

Warrington have been underachievers for years, but are another club who could benefit from stability this year, with their favourite son, Paul Cullen, installed as coach. This, however, should be a little too much for them.

The other contenders starting out next Saturday are St Helens, whose draw to play at the surviving French club, Union Treiziste Catalane, was the last thing they wanted, given their appointment to meet the Sydney City Roosters in the World Club Challenge six days later.