Gateshead v St Helens: Teams

Gateshead Thunder have landed a plum home tie against the holders in the quarter-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The Co-operative Championship club has never been further than the fourth round before, but booked their place in the last eight with a 34-16 win over Oldham.

They are the only non-Super League club left in the competition and were outclassed by the Salford City Reds 64-4 the last time they met top flight opposition in the cup in 2007.

Although Gateshead have not met Saints since Thunder were re-formed in 2000, the old club faced Saints three times in Super League in 1999, losing 22-34 away before beating them 32-20 (home) and 36-32 (away).

Thunder are currently ninth in the Championship, though, and will be without captain and influential hooker Andrew Henderson after he returned to Australia following the death of his father on Wednesday.

No return date has been set for the Scotland international, who joined the club from Super League side Castleford during the off-season.

Depth

While their opposition has never reached the semi-finals, St Helens are aiming for a record ninth successive appearance in the last four.

Saints have won 17 successive cup-ties, having lifted the trophy three years running, with Hull FC the victims in last year's final, but coach Mick Potter insists there will be no complacency from his team.

"We won't be taking them lightly. This is one where you could trip over if you are not careful," he said.

"I would like to think we will have enough to get over them, even though it is away. I imagine they'll be keen and they have a few names I recognise from back in Australia."

Saints have a star-studded roster to choose from and hope to have prop Bryn Hargreaves back for the match.

The successful return of Jon Wilkin from a knee injury also means Lee Gilmour has been given a rest after suffering with a few bangs of late.

Although international wingers Ade Gardner and Francis Meli remain on the sidelines, Potter has no qualms about continuing with teenage half-backs Kyle Eastmond and Gary Wheeler on the flanks.

Promising youngster Jonny Lomax is also included in the squad after missing the 22-12 triumph against Harlequins because of school exam commitments.

Saints squad: Wellens, Gidley, Pryce, Long, Cunningham, Graham, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Puletua, Clough, Eastmond, Dean, Wheeler, Fa'asavalu, Ashurst, Lomax, Emmitt

Gateshead squad (from): McAlpine, Wilson, Neighbour, Nash, Sanderson, Thorman, Branighan, Payne, Cakacaka, Knowles, Aitken, Ryan Clarke, Barron, Rasaubale, Parker, Peers, Youngquest, Vernon, McBride, Russo, Scott, Franze, Kahler, Matthews, Woods, Dack, Rhys Clarke, Welton, Cording, Crowther, Andrews