Dobson’s Salford Red Devils squad, which plays its regular season games in the UK’s Super League, is just one win away from qualifying for the prestigious European knockout tournament’s final at 90,000 seat Wembley Stadium.

The Red Devils claimed a dominant 30-6 victory over Wakefield Trinity - a side which downed Salford twice during the regular season - at AJ Bell Stadium on Friday morning local time.

Dobson was in the thick of the action, gathering a chip kick and offloading to teammate Ryan Lannon for a try early in the piece, and slotting a penalty to extend the lead to 14-0 soon after. 

Dobson said his side was peaking at the perfect time, reaching a level of dominance which was proving almost impossible for other sides to match.

“Wakefield Trinity was lucky to get on the scoreboard at all to be honest,” he said.

“It was great to see the guys put in a performance like that when it really mattered in such a big game.

“The game was over before the final whistle, which meant we could relax a little bit and have some fun towards the end.”

The Red Devils will now return to regular season action, before resuming their quest to make the club’s first knockout final in 48 years and win its first cup since 1938.

But they’ll have to get through Wigan in the semi final first, with a five week wait before the marquee clash.

Dobson said his teammates would put the impending Challenge Cup clash out of their collective minds over the coming weeks, in a bid to focus on the more immediate challenges lying ahead in the Super League.

But he admitted to opportunity to play for Cup glory would seep back into the consciousness of the Red Devil camp well before they meet Wigan in just over a month.

“You try to put it out of your mind for the time being but it’s always going to start creeping back in as you get closer and closer to the game,” he said.

Wigan has historically excelled in the competition, winning a competition record 20 cups, but sits well below the second-placed Red Devils in eighth spot on the Super League table.

The two sides will complete for a place in the final at 11:30pm on July 30.