Paul Anderson is confident the Huddersfield Giants are about to produce their best performance of the season and move within a game of the Super League Grand Final at the first attempt.
Huddersfield head into tonight’s home qualifying play-off clash against Wigan Warriors as the hot favourites to triumph.
While the Giants claimed the League Leaders Shield 11 days ago with a 40-0 home thumping of Wakefield, the fourth-placed Warriors have lost all their momentum and won just three of their last nine top-flight fixtures – including a 20-6 home defeat to Leeds Rhinos last Thursday.
And with Huddersfield going into tonight’s contest with a full-strength side after the first-choice line-up were rested at Bradford Bulls at the weekend in order to get over niggly injuries, Anderson can’t wait to see his players rise to the occasion.
“There’s a real sense of excitement going into this game,” said the Giants head coach.
“Our preparation has been good and the week off for many of our senior players came at just the right time.
“It has been reflected in the quality and intensity of training this week.
“But, at the same time, we’re under no illusion as to how big a challenge we face tonight, because Wigan are a great side.
“We’ve beaten them twice this season, and to have done that we’ve needed to play exceptionally well.
“And we know we’re going to have to play even better tonight to guarantee we beat them again.
“I’m sure that will be the case, because there’s a real steely determination among the group. There’s a united sense that after coming this far we don’t want to throw away our advantage now.
“We intend to do whatever we can to make sure we progress at the first attempt tonight, earn another weekend off and give ourselves the best chance of winning our next game in a fortnight to take us to Old Trafford and the Grand Final.
“I know this group is capable of doing just that.”
If the Giants triumph tonight, they will then make the ClubCall next weekend when they can pick their semi-final opponent.
