THE Huddersfield Giants will head to St Helens for a pre-season clash with their Super League rivals.

Coach Paul Anderson’s men will do battle with former boss Nathan Brown’s new side at Langtree Park on Friday, January 11 (8.00).

It will be the Giants’ first trial match, with a home warm-up fixture against Widnes taking place at the John Smith’s Stadium nine days later (Sunday, January 20).

These are expected to be the only pre-season games for Anderson and his squad ahead of the Super League opener, also at St Helens, on Saturday, February 2.

But even though the Giants will be travelling across to Saints just three weeks before the league meeting, Anderson doesn’t see it as being an issue.

“I had to smile when the fixtures came out the other week, because our pre-season game has been in the pipeline for a while now,” said Anderson, who took over from Brown when he left the Giants in late July.

“Not that I see it as a problem, though.

“Us and Saints will obviously be in the same boat, and I can’t see the January trial game having any bearing on what’s going to happen three weeks later.

“This will be the chance for many of the squad to have a run-out, and that in itself is important.

“After we play this game, we’ve still got three weeks’ preparation, as well as the home game against Widnes.

“But there’s no doubt the Saints game is important to our build-up to the season.”

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