Assistant coach Kieron Purtill doesn’t expect the Giants to remain under the Super 8s radar for too much longer.

Huddersfield leapfrogged St Helens into third place in the top-flight table with their hard-fought 28-22 triumph against the reigning champions at Langtree Park.

It was the first time this season the Giants have beaten one of the three teams who finished above them at the end of the regular season. The best they managed in the six meetings with third-placed Saints, leaders Leeds and second-placed Wigan was a 24-24 home draw against the Rhinos on April 30.

Huddersfield suffered two close-fought defeats by Saints in the regular season – 11-8 at the John Smith’s Stadium and 35-34 at Langtree Park five weeks earlier – and Purtill believes this latest win could prove to be a turning point in their season.

“We’ve come to St Helens and beaten a team that’s above us in the league, which in itself is highly significant,” said delighted former Saints No2 Purtill.

“We’ve competed against some of the big boys this year and probably not come away with the right result. On this occasion, we competed and came away with the win.

“We’ve kind of gone under the radar a little bit but we’re up into third spot and that’s given ourselves a real good chance of finishing there.

“That’s a really big statement of intent, and the extra belief a win like this could give us could prove massive. Our confidence has been good all year, but that confidence is obviously as high as ever.

“We showed some real good composure after going down to 12 men (Michael Lawrence was sin-binned after the Giants were placed on a team warning just before the break), we got back in the arm-wrestle and I think our hard work over the last few weeks has paid off.“

Huddersfield have obviously strengthened their position to secure a top-four Super 8s finish and a play-off semi-final spot with their Saints’ success.

Following next weekend’s Challenge Cup final break, the Giants resume with a home fixture against Castleford Tigers the following Thursday before hosting Warrington Wolves, travelling to Hull FC and entertaining Leeds Rhinos.

And if the Giants win all four, then they will finish at least third in the Super 8s table and move to within one victory of a first Super League Grand Final appearance at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 10.