TOP Newsome Panthers junior Ryan Heeley will make his Huddersfield Giants debut in Sunday's Junior Academy clash against Bradford Bulls at Odsal (12.40).
It promises to be a big occasion, not just for Heeley but for the rest of his new teammates, as the Giants do battle in a curtain-raiser to the Super League clash between the two teams.
That means there should be a bumper crowd to watch the action unfold, with Heeley looking to take centre stage.
The Huddersfield-born back is one of the town's brightest stars, having played for England on a regular basis, and the Giants have high hopes he can make a big impact.
And it's vital the club's Under 18s pick up the points after they were beaten at Castleford Tigers a week ago.
On the opening week of this grading phase, they beat Leeds Rhinos, and a win at Odsal would put them in a strong position to qualify for the Academy Championship.
Besides Heeley, there's also expected to be a debut for back-rower Dave Valentine, the grandson of the Fartown legend and former Great Britain captain of the same name.
The Senior Academy are also on duty this weekend and entertain Widnes Vikings at Laund Hill (Saturday, 2.30).
But missing from the side is Super League squad man Thomas Hemingway, who picked up a shoulder injury at Castleford last week.
His place at stand-off is taken by Richard Knight, with Huddersfield Sharks' Kevin Bower fitting in at scrum-half.
And named on the bench is Patrick Walker, the younger brother of Matthew and James, who were on the Giants' books three years ago.
Senior Academy: Hull; Fagborun, Squires, George (M), George (L); Knight, Bower; Housten, Tillotson, Holdsworth, Senior, Clare, Hulme. Subs: Walker, Garside, Wilkinson, Flaherty.
Junior Academy: Sutherland; Heeley, Robinson, Johnson, Cudjoe; Mennell, Perry; Gee, Lawson, Dobbs, Clark, George, Valentine. Subs: Proctor, O'Brien, Wood, Brook.
