ANDREW Chalmers admits the mouth-watering Challenge Cup clash with Leeds Rhinos will be the biggest game since he took over the Bulls.

The chairman can't wait to sample up close for the first time what has traditionally been one of the fiercest rivalries in rugby league after the West Yorkshire neighbours were paired together in the sixth round at Odsal.

Bradford and Leeds have served up classic encounters down the years - not least when a Rhinos side including current coach David Furner were beaten 22-20 by Bulls in the Challenge Cup final in 2003.

And the fact that the teams have not played competitively against each other since August 2014 only increases the anticipation, as Chalmers acknowledged.

He said: "It will surpass the promotion final last year (when Bulls beat Workington to go up from League One). It’s going to be huge. The rivalry is no less fierce now.

"I got a text telling me that it is 1,746 days since we last played Leeds!"

Watch again: Relive the highlights from Bulls comeback win over Featherstone

Rhinos have won two Grand Finals and one Challenge Cup in the four seasons since Bulls were relegated from Super League but they currently sit bottom of the top flight.

And Chalmers, who took over at Odsal in early 2017, insists Bulls won't lack belief that they could pull off a memorable upset.

He said: "This playing group has had some pretty clear objectives set for it in terms of the main competition but as John (Kear) will tell you, he has got eyes on trying to win everything along the way, starting with the Yorkshire Cup, so the players won’t be just making up the numbers.

"They will throw everything at it to win."

Chalmers admits he is still getting his head round the 27-26 golden point win after an amazing comeback against Featherstone to set up the dream draw with Leeds.

He said: "It’s been a bit surreal. Being in the position we were in with eight minutes to go and 18 points down, I think you could have got 10,000-1 on us actually getting up and winning.

"To come out with that result and then finish it off with a field goal was freakish. I don’t quite know how we can explain it all.

"I look at that and then when the balls came out in the draw. It was fate I suppose.

"It’s exciting and I suppose it’s the magic that is the Challenge Cup."

The date of the tie is still to be confirmed but it will almost certainly attract the biggest gate at Odsal in years, though Chalmers did not wish to target a specific figure.

He said: "After witnessing the draw and the last game I wouldn’t want to make any predictions except to say it’s going to be a big crowd and will be exciting."

Chalmers is also delighted the Bulls faithful who have followed the club through tough times can enjoy some cup fever thanks to the never-say-die spirit that brought about the dramatic turnaround against Featherstone.

He said: "They are witnessing a team that is discovering its soul. John talked about that after the game – the will and the desire to do the unachievable. To win under the most difficult of circumstances and to learn about themselves. It is a fantastic reward for our loyal fans."

Coach Kear also expressed his delight at the draw, having gone on record as saying he wanted Leeds at home.

He said: "It's a fantastic draw. It's the one we all had our fingers crossed for and we've been lucky enough to get it.

"It's a nostalgic return of one of the great derbies of Super League. They were great games and obviously there is great rivalry between the cities.

"We couldn't have asked for a better tie and, regardless of the result, we'll make a fair amount of money from it, which is really important."