MILLOM will be ball number 27 in this Friday’s draw for the first round of the 2019 Challenge Cup.

The Woollybacks, who reached round three in this year’s edition of the knockout competition, are the only amateur team from South Cumbria to be involved this time around.

Among their possible opponents are Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, who are making their bow in the Cup and are number 33.

However, their entry is on the condition their first-round and potential second-round matches will both be played away.

Tom Sibley’s men faced Strathmore Silverbacks at home in the first round in 2018 and they could again find themselves up against Scottish opposition, with Edinburgh Eagles flying the flag.

Other teams to keep an eye out for are Irish side Longhorns (25) and Welsh outfit Torfaen Tigers (43).

In total, 52 sides representing the community game, the Armed Forces and Great Britain Police, as well as the overseas contingent, go into the hat for the draw.

It takes place at 5.30pm on Friday evening and will be conducted by John Kear, winner of the competition as coach of Sheffield Eagles and Hull FC, and Leeds Rhinos women’s captain Lois Forsell, who helped her side to victory in the Women’s Challenge Cup this year.

The first round is scheduled for the weekend of January 26 and 27 next year.

1. All Golds; 2. Army; 3. Batley Boys; 4. Bentley; 5. Beverley; 6. Bradford Dudley Hill; 7. Clock Face Miners; 8. Crosfields; 9. Dewsbury Moor; 10. Distington; 11. Drighlington; 12. East Leeds; 13. Edinburgh Eagles; 14. Featherstone Lions; 15. Great Britain Police; 16. Hammersmith Hill Hoists; 17. Haydock; 18. Hunslet Club Parkside; 19. Hunslet Warriors; 20. Kells, 21. Leigh East; 22. Leigh Miners Rangers; 23. Lock Lane; 24. London Chargers; 25. Longhorns; 26. Milford Marlins; 27. Millom; 28. Normanton Knights; 29. North Herts Crusaders; 30. Orrell St James; 31. Oulton Raiders; 32. Ovenden; 33. Red Star Belgrade; 34. Rochdale Mayfield; 35. Royal Air Force; 36. Royal Navy; 37. Shaw Cross Sharks; 38. Siddal; 39. Skirlaugh; 40. Stanningley; 41. Thatto Heath; 42. Thornhill Trojans; 43. Torfaen Tigers; 44. Underbank Rangers; 45. Wallsend Eagles; 46. Wath Brow Hornets; 47. West Bowling; 48. West Hull; 49. Wigan St Judes; 50. Wigan St Patricks; 51. Woolston Rovers; 52. York Acorn.