FORMER Giants captain Darren Fleary is ready to put some close friendships to one side and do what he can to inspire his struggling Leigh Centurions side to a shock Super League triumph at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday (3.00).
The vastly-experienced 32-year-old spent two successful seasons with his hometown club and was captain when Huddersfield reached last year's Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals.
But the former Leeds and Great Britain prop admits that will count for nothing when he leads out Leigh in his first game back.
"I've tried not to focus too much on the fact that it's Huddersfield at Huddersfield this weekend," he said.
"But the closer it's got to the game, the more excited I'm getting about it. I've just got to make sure the emotion doesn't get the better of me.
"I know it's going to seem a little strange at first coming up against some of my best mates, such as Marcus St Hilaire.
"But I'll be there as Leigh captain, and as soon as I put my shirt on and get out on the field, those friendships will be forgotten.
"My job is to try and do what I can to get us a win and make sure we have a good finish to the season.
"I know everyone outside our club is talking abour relegation, but in this game you never know.
"All our focus is on performing as well as we can. We're all still playing for our futures, and that's a big motivation."
Fleary admits his teammates were bitterly disappointed not to have beaten Wigan last Friday, when they lost 30-22 after leading 10-8.
But he believes that will make them more fired-up to face the Giants.
"It was a very solemn dressing room after Wigan, because we felt we could beat them," he added.
"Now we want to make sure we do beat Huddersfield."
