ROUGHYEDS are now gearing up for the mouth-watering prospect of a derby double-header with Swinton.

The Lions’ 28-16 win against Newcastle Thunder means Oldham will clash with their near neighbours at Heywood Road, Sale in the second round of the Betfred Challenge Cup this coming weekend and then meet them again at Bower Fold a few days later, on Good Friday, April 2, in the Championship opener.

With both matches being streamed on Our League the league game at Bower Fold on Good Friday kicks-off at 5.15pm to fit in with streaming schedules, with the cup-tie this Sunday at 12.30pm on BBC Sport Online, iPlayer and Red Button 

Super League clubs enter the competition in round three, but the real significance of a third-round appearance for Championship clubs is that they are automatically in the semi-final of the 1895 Cup and thus only 80 minutes from Wembley.

"Both Swinton and ourselves are only two games from Wembley so that's a massive incentive," said Oldham captain Gareth Owen.

"The winners at Heywood Road next week only need a bit of luck in the semi-final draw and what might happen then is mind-boggling.

"It's going to be a really tough tie and it should be a cracker.

"I'm really looking forward to it and I know the other lads will be too.

"Both teams will look at the other and think 'this is the sort of side we want to be beating in the Championship' so to have two meetings within a few days so early in the season is very interesting."

Challenge Cup first round: Sheffield Eagles 6-30 York City Knights, Oldham 20-6 Barrow Raiders, London Broncos 24-10 Keighley Cougars, Whitehaven 23-16 Dewsbury Rams, Halifax Panthers 6-19 Batley Bulldogs, West Wales Raiders 4-58 Widnes Vikings, Featherstone 41-16 Bradford Bulls, Swinton Lions 28-16 Newcastle Thunder.

Second round: Swinton v Oldham, Featherstone v Batley, London Broncos v York City Knights, Widnes v Whitehaven.