Cougars go into Sunday's Challenge Cup clash at Featherstone with plenty of old scores to settle - and the weight of history sitting on their shoulders.

Director of Rugby Peter Roe was coach at Featherstone from 1999 to 2002 when he left to take over at Wakefield, and he will be meeting up with plenty of old friends.

But there will be few happy memories of trips to Post Office Road for Cougar fans -- their team has only won at that ground twice in the last 40 years.

The clubs have met five times in the Challenge Cup with Featherstone winning three and Keighley enjoying victory in two.

Cougars are also the professional club that has gone the longest without reaching the last 16 of the competition, having not achieved it since 1997.

Now they know a win on Sunday would give the club a major boost before the start of the league season, and they could be rewarded with a plum Super League tie fifth round which would be a major money-spinner.

Roe has taken many positives from the way the side have grown in stature throughout the Northern Rail Cup. He is now looking for them to step up against the club which was relegated from NL1 last year.

"We were placed in a very hard group of all National One clubs and I don't think many people gave us a chance," said Roe.

"The victory over Halifax was one for the lads to savour and they can be desperately disappointed not to have beaten Oldham twice having lost to them in the dying seconds on both occasions. If we can find this level of consistency every week then I feel we will have a good season.

"The rebuilding goes on and in recent weeks we have signed Eric Johnson who came up with a try scoring home debut against Oldham. Neil Cherryholme is also proving a big, solid unit.

"I would also like to congratulate Alex Brown on his Player of the Round award in the Northern Rail competition. He has already proved he can make the step up to professional level.

"I have been pleased with everyone who has come to the club this year and it goes to show our significant policy of bringing in young players is paying off. But once again I would ask fans to be patient with us as we look further down the track and not just the next game.

"I would also like to remind our fans that the majority of our squad have never played anywhere near this level in the past and we must keep the pressure off them."

"We will go into the Featherstone game as underdogs but I am confident team spirit will allow us to give 100 per cent for the 80 minutes. This has been the case in recent games and this could help us to get the right result on Sunday."

Roe has just one major doubt ahead of the cup game at the Lionheart Stadium with second row forward Richard Knight struggling with a back problem. Apart from this Roe will be going with a fully fit squad.

n A string of fundraising events are being planned for Cougar Park throughout the summer with a 'Sing, Sup and Scoff' night of karaoke on April 22 with tickets costing £10 including supper.

Barry McDermott will be guest at a dinner to be held in Skipton on May 15 and there is to be a golf day at Silsden Golf Club in June.