SATURDAY’S Challenge Cup quarter final between Saints and Warrington is Kristian Woolf’s first experience of rugby league’s oldest competition.

And he is relishing the prospect, having been intrigued from afar for so many years.

He is pleased that the cup, although it brings scheduling difficulties, is going ahead in these troubled times.

Woolf said: “It is something you watch from Australia with a bit of intrigue because you know the history of it and know it is a really big deal, that they are always really exciting games.

“When I say intriguing, I have always wondered how it is fit into the season, running parallel with a different competition as well.

“It is certainly going to be good to experience it.

“The fact it is sudden death, a quarter final and it is against last year’s winners adds a bit to the game.”

If Saints were to win on Saturday, the semi final will take place three days after the Wigan Super League game - so there will be fixture pressure on the winners.

“It has been well documented how many games we are trying to fit in, but with the history and the profile it has I am glad efforts were made to keep it,” Woolf said.