Super League XX leaders Leeds Rhinos will be looking to avoid two straight defeats for the first time this season tomorrow night.
In their opening 12 top-flight fixtures, the men from Headingley have notched up 10 victories, with their only defeats being suffered at the hands of Warrington.
And the Wolves secured their impressive double just a week ago when they won 29-10 at the home of the Rhinos. Warrington won 18-6 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in March.
But apart from those two blips against the club coached by former Leeds boss Tony Smith, Leeds have swept all before them – although the Giants can count themselves unlucky not to have collected the League points when they travelled to Headingley in round three.
Had it not been for a tough refereeing call in the closing stages when a scrum that should have gone the Giants’ way was handed to the hosts, Huddersfield wouldn’t have narrowly lost 28-24 after conceding a last-gap try to Paul Aiton.
That may act as an extra source of motivation for coach Paul Anderson’s men in this John Smith’s Stadium return.
But the Giants know that whatever the circumstances, they’re going to need to play well to secure victory over a Leeds side who have taken many by surprise this season.
A strong view throughout Super League was that Leeds’ ageing side may be starting to tire.
But the club’s emerging talents have had something to say about that!
The likes of Liam Sutcliffe, Brad Singleton and Ash Handley have all come into the side and not weakened the Rhinos at all. In fact, the enthusiasm these youngsters have shown has proved infectious.
As a result, it could be players like this and not the Sinfields, Peacocks and McGuires of this world who could be the major threat to the Giants tonight.
