SOMETIMES a cup can come as a welcome distraction -- and that's the case for Fylde as they prepare for Saturday's Powergen Cup Fourth Round.

It seems an unlikely giant killing act in the offing for Fylde struggling at the wrong end of National Division Two and Birmingham & Solihull fourth in Division One.

Fylde are second bottom, with just one league win over basement side Stourbridge, but have been on the wrong end of some tight matches.

"We got off to a slow start in pre-season and that carried over into the new campaign," said assistant coach Stuart Connell.

"We registered a few players who then gave backword and then found ourselves in a state where we were a long way away from a reasonable first team squad."

There are some new faces at the club this season, however.

"Ian Marsh and Damien Whitter have come from Barrow rugby league club, and it's given us another option," said Connell. "Damien is a big lad but his movement is good and we are always on the lookout for new talent."

Like a lot of clubs, Fylde has strong connections to local schools, but lose players when they go to university and, in an attempt to reverse that trend, they have recently linked up with the University of Central Lancashire and have several new players on the books as a result.

Fylde lost out in another close game last weekend, going down 19-18 at Wharfedale.

Flanker Andy Atkinson scored one of Fylde's tries and Connell said: "Andy's coming back from 12 months out with a cruciate ligament injury and he is getting better by game."

And influential players like Alistair Atkinson, Grant Ferguson and Andre Barnard are now firing on all cylinders.

Ex-Scottish international hooker Martin Scott also grabbed a try against Wharfedale while David Wiseman kicked a conversion and two penalties.

They have had better luck in the Powergen Cup, beating South Leicester 22-13 and Lydney 36-15 in previous rounds.Fylde, who are hosting the National Under-9s sevens competition next March, have been skippered by New Zealand prop Matt Filipo for the past three seasons, the first overseas player to have the honour.

And they are expecting a tough trip to the Midlands.

"We are expecting a big pack and we will be working to contain them up front and then try and match them in the set piece," said Connell.

"There's no pressure on us and, when you look at some of the results there have been, anyone seems capable of beating anyone."