GIANTS chairman Ken Davy is confident his club can build on last season's Super League achievements - and backed by more fans than ever!

Huddersfield enjoyed their highest finish in British rugby league for 40 years in 2004 when finishing seventh and reached the semi-final of the Challenge Cup for the first time in 33 years.

Now the task for coach Jon Sharp and his squad is to do even better in 2005, starting with victory at Leigh in the Giants' Super League X opener on Saturday (6.05).

And Giants chief Davy has no doubt everything is in place to make that happen.

"Everybody has worked tremendously hard behind the scenes to ensure we can build on last year's outstanding achievements," he said.

"We are all absolutely delighted by the quality of the signings we have made, and we're absolutely delighted with the way the fans have responded to what we are trying to do.

"We set a target of attracting 1,500 season ticket holders and that is about to be reached.

"The aim now, of course, is to go way beyond that, and I would urge all those who are still thinking about signing up to make that commitment.

"As a club, we believe that we can go much, much further in Super League and I would love as many people from the town as possible to join us on this exciting journey."

Davy's enthusiasm for the campaign ahead has obviously been further fired by the recruitment of the four top signings.

The most high profile is Australian Test centre Michael De Vere, although fellow new arrivals Brad Drew, Chris Thorman and Paul Jackson are also making a tremendous impression in the build-up to the new season.

And Davy is confident the quality quartet will make a massive on-the-field impact.

"Those who saw our recent pre-season game at Bradford would have seen how well Chris and Paul have fitted in," he added.

"Unfortunately, Michael is still a month away from playing because of his knee injury and Brad missed the Bulls game with flu.

"But I watched Brad put through his paces in the behind-closed-doors game between the first team and the Under 21s over the weekend.

"I was mightily impressed with Brad, and the whole squad for that matter, with what I saw.

"It is clear from the work being done in training that every member of last season's squad has improved.

"I am now fully expecting match-winning performances from the likes of Crabtree, Reilly, Slicker, March, and our new captain Ben Roarty.

"These really are exciting times!"