ALTHOUGH the Huddersfield Giants suffered a demoralising home defeat to Bradford Bulls six days ago, they should still reach the Super League play-offs.

Huddersfield head into this weekend’s break for the Challenge Cup final sitting in seventh place with two rounds of the regular season remaining.

And if every result over the next two weeks went their way, then they could finish as high as fifth, although that does seem a little improbable.

For starters, the Giants (26 points and a points difference of plus 59) would have to win their two remaining games at Warrington next Sunday and at home to Leeds Rhinos seven days later.

At the same time the fifth-placed Rhinos (30pts, plus 151) must lose that final game against the Giants and also falter at home to Salford, while the sixth-place Hull FC (28pts, minus 15) need to slip-up away at Bradford and at home to Castleford.

One win for Huddersfield in their last two games would guarantee seventh and could even make it sixth if Hull lose both their fixtures.

But if the Giants are beaten by Warrington and Leeds, then there will be anxious looks below.

Eighth-placed Bradford (23pts, minus 35) would move above them with wins at home to Hull FC and at Catalan Dragons.

And ninth-placed Wakefield (22pts, minus 143) could also take their place with success at home to Widnes and away to Salford – although, crucially, points difference would still be likely to come to the Giants’ rescue.

Huddersfield would have to lose both their games by 50 points, while the Wildcats would need to win both of their games by the same margin!

That’s why a play-off spot for the Giants is already almost guaranteed, although it would obviously be far more desirable to hit some form – and hopefully win at least one of their final two fixtures – and take some momentum and confidence into what will be a tough play-off campaign.

Because the Giants can finish no higher than fifth it means coach Paul Anderson’s men will be playing knock-out rugby league straight from the start. There’s no second bite of the play-off cherry.

Under the current system, it’s the team finishing fifth at home to the team in eighth, while it’s six v seven.

The losers are out and the winners, who will be away, will face up against the loser of one v four and the loser of two v three.

Again, the loser is straight out.

But let’s worry about the two remaining League games first!