Paul Anderson has labelled the Giants’ Super League trip to Widnes Vikings on Sunday as ‘massive’.
A run of three wins from their last five 2016 top-flight fixtures has put second-bottom Huddersfield back in the mix for a top-eight finish.
It’s a claim that was re-inforced with Sunday’s impressive 48-20 Magic Weekend destruction of title-chasing St Helens in Newcastle.
And while Anderson knows everyone within his club is keeping their feet firmly on the ground, he’s aware a Super 8s finish is now far more of a realistic proposition.
“The reality is that we’re still second bottom of the table, so getting carried away at this stage is the last thing on our minds,” said Anderson, who is ready to name the same 19-man squad that was on duty at St James’ Park a week ago.
“But over the past month we’ve definitely put ourselves in a much more favourable position.
“In fact, if you were to put together a Super League form table over that period we’d be in the top three.
“As a result, we know if we can go to Widnes, perform well and get the win, then we can think seriously about starting to climb the table. We know that if results go our way this weekend, then we could be just two points behind eight-placed Widnes by Sunday teatime.
“That just shows how massive this weekend’s game could be for us.
“And there’s certainly no reason at all why we shouldn’t be able to rise to that challenge.
“After our nightmare start to the year, we’re finally getting some consistency with our selection and some consistency with our training and out momentum is starting to grow.
“What we have to make sure is that, after such a promising month, we don’t go back to square one n one game by being too complacent.
“Instead, we have to make sure we keep on building, because that win over Saints last week – although a good one – was still far from perfect. Improving on our performance that day is our No1 priority.”
Although Anderson won’t be finalising his matchday 17 until tomorrow morning, it would be a surprise if he were to change the line-up.
If that was the case, then Ryan Brierley and Josh Johnson would again be the unlucky men to miss out.
Brierley missed out last week to make way for fit-again first-choice full-back Scott Grix, while Johnson made way for new forward signing Sebastine Ikahihifo.
Grix and Ikahihifo were both impressive performers on the day, with Anderson admitting the selection calls are providing him with a very welcome headache.
“As head coach, I’ve been waiting a very long time to get some selection headaches, and I’m getting them at last,” added Anderson.
“And I have to admit it was one major headache I was suffering last week.
“It was a massive call to put Grixy straight back in, because Ryan’s been gettng better with every game he’s playing for us, while it was equally as tough going with Seb above Josh Johnson.
“In the end, we went for Seb because he offers us something different, which was clear for everyone to see.
“But there’s no doubt Josh still has a big future for us at the club and will remain a very valuable member of our squad for years to come.
“At this stage, there’s still a chance they could feature this weekend. Final selection has still to be decided.
“But it’s good to be in the position where those that do play know that if they don’t perform then we’ve got quality players waiting in the wings to take their place.”
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As well as the 17 on duty at Newcastle, four younger members of the Giants Super League squad were last week in action on dual registration with Oldham as they suffered a narrow 12-6 Kingstone Press
Championship defeat at Halifax.
They were hooker Kruise Leeming, prop Tyler Dickinson, full-back Jared Simpson and back-row forward Liam Johnson, who played well at centre on the night.
But the star of the show was talented 20-year-old Leeming, who Anderson is still predicting will have a bright Super League future at the Giants.
“Kruise has probably played more Super League games than we would have wished for him at this stage, particularly as he’s not had a settled spell in the side,” continued the Giants chief.
“But he’s getting the chance to play on dual reg and getting used to picking up the bumps and bruises on a regular basis, and that’s not going to do him any harm at all.
“He is developing well at the club and learning all the time, and playing at Oldham will help make him a better Giants player in the long term.”
