John Cartwright has promised that Hull FC won't take their Challenge Cup opponents lightly—no matter who the opposition is. The Black and Whites were originally drawn against four possible opponents for their third-round tie: GB Police, York Acorn, London Chargers, and Oulton Raiders.

However, that shortlist is now down to three after Oulton's 28-12 first-round win over London Chargers on Saturday afternoon, while GB Police take on Acorn this Sunday. Hull will play the winners of the second round tie, which will be played next week, with Cartwright insisting he will show respect to the club's opponent and field a strong side for the third round clash, which kicks off FC's competitive season next month.

In fact, the Aussie coach is excited by the challenge, with Hull, who won the cup in both of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, meeting community club opposition for the first time in 27 years—their last being Ellenborough back in 1998, a 78-0 victory at the Boulevard.

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Speaking on the tie and playing amateur opposition, Cartwright told Hull Live: "It's a hard one, but we certainly have to pick a side to win. We don't have enough squad numbers to take it easy, but you can't ever take anyone easy in this game. That's the beauty of it; you take it easy, and you often get sat on your backside.

"It's a game where we'll have every intention of fielding a reasonably strong squad and a game where we'll be picking a side to win the match. We don't know who we are going to play yet, but for us, it's good match practice against what will be a willing opposition.

"We've also got a game a week later over in the south of France. We've certainly got our eye on everything, but our number one priority now is that we win that Challenge Cup game, and then we'll get back together and prepare for the Catalans game."

In a revamp, Super League sides will enter the cup at the last 32 stage this year, something that has also seen all twelve clubs pinned away from home against lower-league opposition. Two more of those clubs, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens, are destined to meet community outfits, with Cartwright seeing the romance of the occasions.

"I suppose it's the stuff that dreams are made of," he said. "I imagine a lot of those guys, when the draw came out, would have been rubbing their hands together. It's a great opportunity.

"It's foreign to me; it's not something we do over in Australia, but I did play over here in the Challenge Cup, and the one thing that I always wanted to do as a player was play in a Challenge Cup final. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do that, but I'm now here as a coach, and I'd love nothing better than to do that.

"I got to play at Wembley with Australia a couple of times, but I never got to play in the Challenge Cup final. I got to the semi-final with Salford, and we got knocked out in the final hurdle. We were very close, but it's one thing I would love to tick off: to go to Wembley and compete in what is a fantastic event."

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