The Challenge Cup will get the respect it deserves from Workington Town on Sunday, insisted head coach Chris Thorman ahead of his side’s third-round tie against West Bowling (2pm kick-off).

Town welcome the amateur side to Derwent Park this weekend for their first competitive action of the year and Thorman – who reached the final of the competition as a player – will be taking the tie seriously as he looks to start a cup run for his team.

“There are only two competitions for us so there aren’t many opportunities for us to play for silverware and with a competition as prestigious as the Challenge Cup, it has to be taken seriously,” he said.

“From my own experience I’ve gone pretty far in the competition and reached the final at Twickenham as a player. That’s a significant memory in my career so the lads will be taking it seriously.

“In terms of a home draw against an amateur club, we were pretty happy with that.

“I’ve watched their last couple of games in the cup and we’ll be prepared and ready. It’s also another opportunity for people to stake a claim for a shirt come the start of the league campaign.”

Town have their own memories in the competition, having beaten Featherstone Rovers 18-10 at Wembley Stadium to lift the cup in 1952, while last season saw them earn a trip to Headingley in the fifth round to face Super League side Leeds Rhinos in a glamour tie.

“When you look at the two teams that made the final last year, they’re two of the biggest clubs and richest clubs in the country,” Thorman added.

“If teams like that are taking it seriously, everybody else should be. It is a fantastic competition with great history.”

Thorman expects Marcus O’Brien to get his first taste of action for Town this weekend and hopes to have a “relatively strong” squad to choose from. The players who left the field early in the final pre-season game against Barrow – Tom Curwen and Conor Fitzsimmons – were due to be assessed to determine if they will feature.