HUDDERSFIELD Giants' Junior Academy side play their biggest game of the season tonight when they visit Widnes Vikings in the Grand Final qualification semi-final (7.45).

The importance of the fixtures is reflected in the fact that it is being staged at the Halton Stadium, the Super League home of the Vikings, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Victory will guarantee the winners a place in the September 27 final at the first attempt, at a venue yet to be decided.

But for the losers there is at least a second bite of the cherry, with a home semi-final against the winners of the Warrington v Wakefield elimination clash to prepare for on September 20.

The aim of the game tonight, however, is to reach the final at the first attempt, with the Giants confident they can get the job done.

Although Huddersfield suffered a 40-20 defeat at Widnes earlier in the season, they have improved dramatically since then under coaching team Danny Russell and Mick Sykes.

That was borne out when they gained a 32-28 revenge at Fartown a month ago - a result which is obviously still fresh in their minds.

And Russell and Sykes travel across the M62 with an exceptionally strong squad at their disposal and looking to make it eight wins on the trot.

The only two missing are Tom Senior and Bolu Fagtbourn, who are ruled out because they have played too many games for the Senior Academy.

Yet with the likes of Philip Joseph and Ben Feehan, who have both played in the first team, operating in the centres, the multi-talented Thomas Hemingway prompting the attack from stand-off and Jason Southwell leading the pack, the Giants must stand a very good chance.

"Tonight will be very tough, but I'm sure the players will all give 100%," said Player Performance Manager Stuart Sheard.

"The play-offs are a bonus and an opportunity for the players to pick up some silverware.

Huddersfield Giants: Knight; Sutherland, Joseph, Feehan, George; Hemingway, Hawkyard; Southwell, Clare, Holdsworth, Robinson, Gledhill, Samuel. Subs (from): Wilkinson, Simpson (L), Fitzpatrick, Hull, Mennell, Watson, Simpson (M), Dunbar, Tsang.

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