Huddersfield Giants chief Paul Anderson is hoping to see his side step up a gear and use the Magic Weekend as a launchpad for a successful second half of the Super League season.
Last year’s table-toppers reach the halfway stage of their 2014 campaign with tomorrow’s Magic Weekend clash against Bradford Bulls at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium (2.45) and next Friday’s trip to St Helens.
Anderson is the first to admit his side has made a sluggish start to the defence of their League Leaders’ Shield.
But despite having a disrupted pre-season, with over a dozen senior players unable to take part due to 2013 World Cup commitments or major surgery, and being unable to field a full-strength side at any stage this year (the likes of key forwards Shaun Lunt and Larne Patrick have missed a large chunk with injury and England back-rower Brett Ferres has been absent for the past five games due to suspension), the Giants are just four League points behind where they were at the same point last season.
And Anderson now feels the time has come for his side to make their move.
“We keep on being told how it’s not the way you start the season, it’s how you finish,” said Anderson.
“We’ve obviously not made as strong a start as we would have liked, but we’re still in a strong position to challenge, which is exactly what we intend to do.
“The reasons why we believe we haven’t made as strong a start as last season have been well documented.
“But we’re approaching the second half of the season in reasonable shape – that’s why we’re in a position to let Antonio Kaufusi and Jacob Fairbank to go out on loan – and we don’t have any excuses for not pushing on.”
Huddersfield are obviously without Jermaine McGillvary and Jake Connor, who both picked up ankle injuries during the 30-16 Super League triumph at London Broncos seven days ago.
But they are boosted by the return of Brett Ferres, who is back after serving his five-match ban following his sending-off in the controversial Challenge Cup defeat to St Helens and rested duo Scott Grix and Luke Robinson.
Aaron Murphy is expected to return in the backs after he was 18-man against the Broncos, but who Anderson selects in the pack is far harder to predict.
Meanwhile, vice-captain Luke Gale is in-line to make his Bulls return this weekend.
Back-rower James Donaldson is also back in contention, having shaken off an ankle injury.
Half-back Gale was ruled out with a hamstring injury on the eve of last weekend’s 50-0 home defeat at the hands of St Helens.
Young hooker Nathan Conroy has also been included, although top prop Manase Manuokafoa (hamstring) misses out.
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