DON'T try telling Widnes centre Chris Dean that the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup is a secondary competition these days.

Or that the Vikings would be better off concentrating on Super League rather than getting in a lather over Sunday's Cup quarter-final tie at St Helens.

Dean is as keen as ever to do well in rugby league's oldest knockout competition.

He said "Personally I'd love nothing more than to be at Wembley and to get my hands on that trophy. I'm probably speaking on behalf of every player in the game on that front.

"If you ask any player, including the overseas boys, about the Challenge Cup they'll all tell you how much they want to win it.

"It's our job as professionals to deal with whatever's in front of us.

"Starting in the pre-season, we've conditioned ourselves for 30-odd games and that's what we're ready for.

"I don't think it really matters how many games we're playing; we've just got to get out there and do our best to get the win."

Dean cut his teeth in the professional game at St Helens and still has a lot of affection for his former club.

But he'll be holding nothing back on Sunday as he seeks to guide the Vikings to the Cup semi-finals for the second year running.

Saints will start the game as warm favourites this weekend and the competition's sponsors have installed them at a short-priced 7/4 to lift the trophy at Wembley at the end of August.

Dean is under no illusions about the size of the task facing Widnes at Langtree Park against a side that has already completed a Super League double over them this season.

He added "I speak to some of the Saints lads occasionally. They were my first team so I've got a lot of friends there and it's a great club.

"They're playing really well this year. They've got a good squad - forwards and backs - and they're the reigning Super League Champions.

"It's going to be a tough ask but there's a challenge there for us to go to Saints and play against the best.

"We feel when we played them earlier in the season the games could have gone either way.

"At home we were in with a shout right to the end and I don't think the scoreline at Langtree Park reflected how close a game it was.

"I think Saints won by 18 points in the end but that probably didn't do justice to the way we played.

"We'll be going there in confident mood and looking to get the result that takes us into the semis."