HAYDOCK are huge underdogs going into their first ever BARLA National Cup Final on Sunday - but they are relishing it.

The Yickers will be taking at least four busloads of fans to Featherstone Rovers’ ground for the showpiece against West Hull.

Although the NCL Premiership side will start as favourites, Haydock have been in this situation before and won’t be overawed.

Former Saints wing Chris Smith, who coaches the side, said: “From last year when we got through to round four of the Challenge Cup, that gave the lads a lot of confidence going into these cup games.

“We grew from least year and have that self-belief not to be worried about the standard of the opposition and the leagues they are coming from.

“We played a couple of teams from that division last year’s beating Wath Brow away when nobody gave us a chance.”

Although Smith has done his homework on the Hull side, his focus will be on his own side going into this clash.

He said: “I have seen a bit of West Hull and they are a standard NCL team.

“They are well-drilled, quick play the ball and go off the back of that sort of team.

“I know their coach Mark Hewitt as I was at Hull at the same time as him.

“But we will concentrate on what we do.”

As is usual for a big final, Smith faces a few selection headaches with a fit panel of players to choose from.

“When there is a final to play for you always get lads coming back.

“There will be a few headaches and I try to bounce it on to Stuart Simmons my assistant, but he throws it back to me,” he said.

Smith explained that Haydock’s drive to do well in the National Cup was fuelled by the banter they have had with Thatto Heath.

And the Yickers ended up beating the Crusaders in the semi to reach the final.

Smith said: “It is a big experience for the lads to go to and play at a professional ground against a side like West Hull.

“We have never reached this final before so we have made history again,” he said.