With the Northern Rail Cup campaign over for Keighley Cougars this season, they now turn their attention to the Powergen Challenge Cup.

They travel to one of coach Peter Roe's former clubs - Featherstone Rovers - for tomorrow afternoon's tasty encounter.

The prize could well be a plum tie against a Super League club in the last 16 of the most prestigious trophy in rugby league.

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 again bearing in mind it's a side which contains a lot of last year's Academy players.

"We were placed in a very hard group of 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 to be 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."

Roe added: "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 tomorrow."

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. Otherwise, Roe will be going with a fully- fit squad.

Cougars' clash with Featherstone is their first meeting in any competition since 2004 when they each gained home victories in National League One. Featherstone's victory was a 54-16 success after a 42-18 defeat. Keighley have the current worst run in the Cup.

This is the Cougars' last game before they set off on the National League Two trail with two away games. The first is at Sheffield Eagles next Friday night, followed by a trip to Dewsbury Rams on Good Friday.