Huddersfield Giants will be playing all their big guns from the start in tomorrow’s pre-season clash at Wakefield.

That’s the promise from head coach Paul Anderson as last season’s Super League Leaders’ Shield-winners open their 2014 season by competing in former Giants prop Andy Raleigh’s testimonial clash at Belle Vue (3.00).

Huddersfield will start the contest with arguably their strongest available side before gradually introducing younger members of the squad as the game progresses.

Already missing from this weekend’s squad were Brett Ferres (ankle), Shaun Lunt (shoulder and ankle) and Jacob Fairbank (shoulder), who are still recovering from surgery. All three should be available for the Super League opener at Wigan on Friday, February 7.

But now added to that list of absentees is Ukuma Ta’ai, who is caring for his wife who has developed complications following the birth of their second child over Christmas.

As a result, the Giants travel to Wakefield with a 25-man squad, with Anderson promising every member of the squad will have more than enough time to impress and prove they should be part of a whittled-down squad to host Hull KR in the club’s second trial test next Saturday.

“Out of respect to Andy, we felt it was right to start with a strong line-up,” revealed Anderson.

“But we also think it’s the best way to go anyway.

Danny Brough
Danny Brough

“The likes of Danny Brough and Luke Robinson will play most of the first half and will then be replaced by players from the younger end of the squad.

“This will be their chance to shine and impress the coaching staff, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can do after such a long and intense pre-season.

“Half-a-dozen of them were back at the club in October doing extra weight sessions, and things like that, so it’ll be good to see how much that hard work’s paying off.

“And I think everyone’s looking forward to seeing how our young signings fit in.

“Chris Bailey, Jodie Broughton and Antonio Kaufusi have all settled in well. They’ve all been brought in for a reason, and hopefully they’ll show everyone what they can do straight away.

“All in all, this game is of interest for a lot of reasons.”

It’s also a massive game for the Wildcats, with several fringe players knowing a strong performance could put them in the frame for a Super League start early in the season.

That’s because Wakefield fear they may have to start the season without as many as four of their new signings.

Coach Richard Agar has been forced to virtually rebuild his squad after the club sold five of their best players to pay off debts and, with just three weeks to go before the opening game, is still unsure when his overseas recruits will arrive.

Samoa’s World Cup half-back or hooker Pita Godinet and Australian forwards Scott Anderson and Matty Ryan are still waiting for their visas to arrive and the club have yet to complete a move for former Penrith half-back Harry Seijka, 21, a former Australian schoolboy international.

“It’s not ideal,” said Agar. We didn’t start recruiting until November and obviously visas take time.”