Smith's battlers have made the rugby league world sit up and take notice with successive victories over Leeds and Wigan.

And they head into tonight's big showdown at St Helens (8.00) aiming to seal their first win at the venue since 1978 and first double over the Knowsley Road side in 52 years.

Huddersfield were 36-22 winners over Ian Millward's Super League champions at the McAlpine in March.

But Smith, wary of a club seeking revenge for that shock setback and still seething at the failure of their appeal against a two-point deduction for breaking the salary cap, knows it will count for nothing tonight.

Things have moved on, and while we've had two great wins, Saints aren't in bad form themselves," said the Australian team chief, referring to a run of four straight wins which has hoisted Millward's side back up to fifth.

The Giants remain 10th, but are only three points off the play-off zone with a game in hand, at London on Tuesday, on most of their rivals for the top six.

And Smith, in charge since late 2000, believes there is more to come.

"We've been getting on with business as usual, and we believe we can make more progress still, he said.

"We haven't got where we want to be yet, we're still working really hard.

"It's a pretty positive place to work, even in my first full season when we suffered 13 straight losses. "The people here are pretty down to earth, and you've got to be that way when you know you're coming up against St Helens, because you can't afford to get carried away."

On his own future, Smith commented: "I want to concentrate on this year.

"I like to go a year at a time. It makes me work hard for my next job and that suits me.

"When I'm getting closer to where we see ourselves finishing in the season, I'll look to do something about my position then.

"I don't mind living by the seat of my pants. I perform and get my team to perform the best that way."

Millward is certainly impressed by what his compatriot has achieved.

"I think Huddersfield are the form team of the moment and we'll have to play damn well to beat them," he said.

While Saints are missing long-term injury victims Barry Ward and Paul Newlove, influential skipper and Great Britain forward Chris Joynt is a worry with a knee problem, so ex-Wigan man Stuart Jones is on stand-by.

Smith has a full squad from which to select, and will take stand-off Graham Holroyd, who missed the Leeds match with a twisted ankle but proved his return to full fitness by scoring a hat trick of tries in last night's 36-28 Senior Academy defeat by St Helens at Fartown.