FOR Hull FC star Kirk Yeaman, the Challenge Cup evokes memories of both the best day of his career, and one of the most disappointing.
A two-time finalist with the Black and Whites, Yeaman says nothing he achieves for the rest of his career can eclipse beating Leeds in the 2005 final at Cardiff.
But equally, he says he would never again want to experience the low of a final defeat at Wembley, as he and his FC team-mates suffered at the hands of St Helens in 2008.
Preparing to face Wakefield tomorrow at the KC Stadium, Hull find themselves just three wins from a return to the sport's most romantic occasion.
And this year, with Yeaman set to hold a reunion for the 2005 cup-winning side, the competition has taken on even greater significance.
Organisers are hoping to gather as many players as possible from that successful squad at the KC Stadium on June 25.
And by that time, Yeaman hopes Hull are preparing for this year's quarter-finals, having seen off former coach Richard Agar's Wakefield Wildcats tomorrow.
"It will be great to see all the 2005 squad together again, and hopefully we will still be in the cup at that stage and on course to return to Wembley this year," Yeaman told the Mail.
"I was talking to my wife about the cup and saying how good it would be to get there again with Hull this year and get a bit of silverware back in the cupboard.
"To win it that first time in 2005 was special, but obviously I have also had the downside of playing in a final and losing, and believe you me, it is a lot nicer when you do win it."
Since reaching the cup final in 2008, Hull have failed to mount a serious bid to return to the national stadium.
On three occasions they have gone out at the first time of asking, whilst a run to the quarters in 2011 saw them dumped out by Leeds.
Yeaman admits that record is one he and the rest of Peter Gentle's side are determined to fix this year, and says lessons can be learned from the past four seasons.
"We have tried hard in the cup, but if you want to win it you have got to beat the best teams," he said.
"It is knockout football and you don't get another chance whereas in Super League you always have next week if you have a bad performance to put it right.
"In the cup, you only get the one chance, and if you don't play well, you are gone.
"That is what has let us down in the past few seasons as on those occasions we haven't performed. We have to learn from that and really perform this season.
"It doesn't just happen, it is hard work. You can't expect it to happen, you have to really knuckle down and work hard and see what happens."
Casting his eye forward to his reunion dinner, which the likes of former coach John Kear, and players including Garreth Carvell, Danny Brough, Chris Chester, Paul King, Richard Horne, Graeme Horne and Paul Cooke are expected to attend, Yeaman is hoping the class of 2013 can create their own history.
"This season it would be very special if we were to get there again," he said.
"For me, it is a special competition. Winning in 2005 is the highlight of my career and it probably still will be, even if I win it again."
