Rick Stone is backing the Huddersfield Giants pack to provide a match-winning Super League platform at Warrington tomorrow.

Although Huddersfield were well beaten at home to St Helens last weekend (34-18), new Australian boss Stone was laying little of the blame at the door of his forwards. Instead, he pointed to a lack of ball control as the root cause of the Giants’ downfall in his first game in charge.

And he knows if his pack can carry on from where they left off against Saints and there’s more respect for possession, anything could be possible against the Wolves.

“I thought our middle was pretty sound against St Helens,” reflected Stone, who has opted not to risk Jermaine McGillvary (quad) and Tom Symonds (calf) for the trip to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“When they got close to our line, we struggled against them.

“But that wasn’t the case in the middle, and that’s something to build on. I was fairly encouraged with what I saw in that regard.

“So if we continue in that vain in that particular area and be a little bit more controlled with the ball, then we’ll give ourselves a chance.

“There’s no question the level of skill this group of players possesses, I’d just like to see them rein a few things in a bit. The boys need to be a bit more selective in attack.”