GIANTS coach Tony Smith is refusing to look any further than Friday night's showdown with Super League champions St Helens as the resurgent McAlpine club approach a busy spell which will shape their play-off ambitions.
The Knowsley Road contest is followed by a testing trip to London Broncos a week tonight and a home encounter with Hull the Sunday after.
Smith's side might have been 10th in the 12-club top flight for the last four rounds of matches, three of which they have won.
But after their stunning McAlpine victories over Wigan Warriors and leaders Leeds Rhinos, they are just three points off the crucial top-six cut-off point currently held by Warrington Wolves.
Eighth-placed London are among their immediate rivals in the race for a place in the end-of-season tournament, placing added importance on the meeting at Griffin Park.
But St Helens is the only venue on the mind of Smith, whose side claimed the prize scalp of Ian Millward's Grand Final winners at the McAlpine back in March.
"You keep your feet on the ground and never look too far ahead," insisted Smith.
"That policy has served us well so far, and we'll stick to taking it one match at a time.
"There's been a lot of enthusiastic talk flying around among the fans, and it's great that the place is buzzing.
"But while confidence is high, we can't take anything for granted, and any clash with St Helens is a tough prospect."
Millward's men, inconsistent earlier in the campaign, have won their last four matches to climb to fifth, and are hoping for a further boost tomorrow, when the Rugby League are due to announce the outcome of their appeal against a two-point deduction for breaking the salary cap.
Saints, Hull and basement side Halifax all put their cases against points loss yesterday, and RFL chiefs were today considering the evidence.
Super League clubs are restricted to paying no more than £1.8m or 50% of their income, whichever is the lower, on players' wages.
Two years ago Wakefield Trinity Wildcats were found in breach of the rules and were docked four points, reduced to two on appeal.
They still managed to stay up, so condemning the Giants to the drop.
