YORK City Knights boss James Ford is hoping to land Leeds Rhinos away in tomorrow night's Ladbrokes Challenge Cup sixth round draw - as "deserved reward" for his players' ongoing efforts in adversity.

The homeless Knights avoided another banana skin by winning 44-14 at leading amateurs Leigh Miners Rangers today to become the only League One side to reach the last 16 of the cup, at which stage Super League's biggest clubs enter the fray.

Ford's men had been favourites to progress, like they had in the previous two rounds against League One minnows South Wales and community club Featherstone Lions, but he is now looking forward to a go as heavy underdogs, with the neutrals "on our side".

And, given the way his players have maintained positivity and professionalism amid trying times off the field to notch five wins in seven outings so far, he reckons a headline-grabbing encounter against one of the world's biggest clubs would be just desserts.

"I wouldn't mind Leeds Rhinos away," he said of the draw following today's match in front of a partisan four-figure crowd at Leigh Sports Village.

"I think my boys deserve it. They've had their reputations on the line in three rounds and they've performed pretty well each time, and I think we deserve to be big underdogs now and have everyone on our side rather than have everyone on the opposition's side.

"With the adversity they've been through and the stuff they deliver on a Sunday, my boys deserve a whole heap of praise and a crack at somebody like Leeds or Wigan."

Ford reckoned today's performance was a "marked improvement" on last week's 44-20 win at Oxford.

Leigh Miners might be amateurs but they are unbeaten in the flagship National Conference League premier division and knocked out Oxford in the last round.

“I was pretty happy," he said. “Leigh Miners are well-organised, well-coached and their attacking play on the edges was really good.

“Are they better than some expansion teams in our league? I think we know the answer to that as they beat Oxford 32-6.

"We ran the ball harder (than last week) and defensively we were pretty good. Leigh Miners threw some good shape at us and played good rugby league. We had to play well to win.

"We made an error in the first set when Ryan Mallinder turned the ball over but we got momentum back really well today. We put the ball in the corner and defended well and we got on top in the arm wrestle.

"I was pleased with the mentality of the group throughout the game. Taking nothing away from Leigh Miners, but from minute one we did not look like losing."

Ford had special praise for hat-trick hero Kriss Brining, who got through 70 minutes in a man-of-the-match performance at hooker.

"Kriss was very good - but that's no surprise. I've seen him now for a number of years," said the rookie boss, who previously coached Brining in the under-20s and reserves.

"He's quick and strong and his skill levels have improved dramatically. He is always a handful on the back of quick rucks and his decision-making on when to go and when not to go is going to improve the more he plays."

Victory was marred by injuries to Colton Roche (thumb), Mallinder (dead leg), Liam Cunningham (ankle) and Brining (hand) and each will be checked by the medical staff in the next 48 hours but Ford hoped none was serious.