CASTLEFORD are hoping to draw inspiration from the biggest upset in Challenge Cup history when they take on in-form Warrington in Saturday’s semi-final.

Tigers coach Daryl Powell, looking to lift his side from their 60-6 Super League mauling by Leeds, invited long-serving physiotherapist Matty Crowther to address his players in the build-up to the clash at Leigh Sports Village.

Crowther was a tryscorer when little-fancied Sheffield Eagles beat hot favourites Wigan 17-8 at Wembley in 1998.

“I asked Matty to speak,” Powell said. “He’s got a special story there.

“Sheffield were pretty much the biggest underdogs ever, it shows anything is possible in rugby league.

“Those sort of stories mean something, they create an emotional bond. It was good to hear what he had to say.”

Powell said he did not carry out his customary review of the Leeds game, which resulted in his heaviest defeat in charge of the Tigers, preferring to move quickly onto the next game.

“We haven’t reviewed the game,” he said. “I just felt there would be no point.

“If we had tried going through that on Monday, we would have still been depressed on Tuesday.

“We said we’re moving on and going to crack on with what we’ve got to do this weekend.”

Powell expects to have Michael Shenton, Oliver Holmes, Nathan Massey, Jake Trueman and Adam Milner back after they all sat out the Rhinos debacle, although he has a slight doubt over Milner.

The coach is also hoping to have full-back Niall Evalds and utility back Gareth O’Brien available after injury absences.

“We need them clearly,” he said. “You don’t want to sweep anything under the carpet but you only have to look at our team. We’ve been busted.

“I feel we’ll have a strong team out there this week and there’s no excuses for us.

“It’s the biggest game we’ve faced for a while. We need to get our performance right and our attitude needs to be great.”