DAVID FA’ALOGO can play for the Giants in the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup – if they can beat Hull KR at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday.

The tough 29-year-old back-row forward has been a regular in the New Zealand Test side for several seasons.

He only missed last autumn’s Four Nations series because he had to undergo knee and ankle surgery.

But he was thought to be in the frame for a Kiwi re-call for next month’s traditional Anzac Test against Australia.

Last year’s Test team for the fixture included Fa’alogo, Leeds’ Greg Eastwood and St Helens’ Iosia Soliola, although these two are currently injured.

And with the form Fa’alogo has been showing for the Giants this season, there was a chance New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney may have called for his services.

But Kearney has now announced he will again ignore Super League-based players when selecting his side, believing the travelling involved for United Kingdom-based players to Melbourne for the one-off Test on May 7 is asking too much.

As a result, it means Fa’alogo will be available for the fifth round of the Challenge Cup, which is scheduled for the weekend of May 8 and 9.

That’s obviously good news for the Giants and head coach Nathan Brown as he bids to plot a Wembley Cup final return, although the Galpharm chief knows his club’s involvement that weekend can’t be taken for granted.

With fellow Super League side Hull KR heading to Huddersfield on the back of Sunday’s magnificent 36-16 home win over in-form second-placed Warrington Wolves, the Giants are in for a potentially tough tie.

The fit-again Fa’alogo will be expected to play a big role against Rovers, having produced another explosive performance on his return to Super League action in Friday’s 24-0 home triumph over Castleford.

That was the former South Sydney star’s first game back since suffering a hamstring injury in the win at Harlequins on March 20.

And after ripping the Tigers apart, Brown was again keen to praise the effort of one of his top signings for the 2010 campaign.

"David once again showed he’s a quality player and is important for the squad," said Brown.

"Even with the limited footy he’s played, he’s showing what a destructive force he is."