HUDDERSFIELD Giants should be confident of overcoming the continued absence of hooker or half-back Sean Penkywicz and maintaining their excellent Super League form.

Club officials are refusing to talk publicly about the allegations surrounding Penkywicz, who faces a drugs hearing a week tomorrow after testing positive for a banned steroid.

The 23-year-old has been charged with providing a sample containing stanozolol at a Giants training session on December 17.

The Leigh-based star has not played for the Giants since coming on as a substitute in the heavy 54-10 home defeat to Leeds Rhinos on March 6.

Huddersfield's form has improved dramatically following that major setback, with coach Jon Sharp's side having won four of their last five top-flight outings.

That suggests the Giants have more than enough quality to overcome Penkywicz's absence, although club officials are refusing to admit as much at this sensitive stage.

In fact, Paul White has been an absolute revelation in the role off the bench, which would have been earmarked for Penkywicz at the start of the season.

White's form has been such that he is the club's current leading tryscorer with seven.

As a result, Sharp is unlikely to make changes to the side that beat Wigan 24-16 last Friday as he prepares for Sunday's trip to Bradford Bulls (3.00).

The only exception could be the possible return of half-back Chris Thorman, who has missed the last two games with a back injury.

Penkywicz, meawhile, will appear before the RFL's advisory panel along with Warrington winger Phil Berry, who tested positive for nandrolone.

Only last month, former Giants, Wakefield and Castleford hooker Ryan Hudson was handed a two-year ban after pleading guilty to taking stanozolol.