Coach Nathan Brown’s men once again underlined their rising Super League status to out-muscle and out-play the fourth-placed Robins to leapfrog champions Leeds Rhinos into second place.

It was the 10th successive League and Cup win on the road for the buoyant Giants, who will now be relishing the visit of the Rhinos to the Galpharm Stadium on Saturday.

Normally, Leeds would be red-hot favourites to triumph.

But such is the confidence inside the Giants’ camp – coupled with a stuttering spell for Leeds, which included a shock home defeat to Salford yesterday – that a defeat next weekend against Brian McClennan’s men would come as a huge disappointment.

Clearly, Huddersfield will have to improve dramatically on the shaky start to the contest they made against the Robins when they found themselves 8-0 down inside the opening quarter.

But once they got into their stride there was no stopping them as the visitors chalked up a sixth win from eight top-flight starts.

Early tries from Kris Welham and Liam Colbon suggested it could be a tough afternoon for Brown’s side.

Yet such is the character that now exists throughout the squad that by half-time they had hit back to lead 10-8 through Michael Lawrence and David Hodgson.

And as the hosts began to feel the effects of Friday’s physical derby win over Hull, the men from the Galpharm wrapped up victory with further scores from Shaun Lunt and Stephen Wild before Lawrence then claimed a second long-distance try as Rovers went looking for a consolation in the final minute.

The only downside for the Giants, who were marshalled superbly yet again by five-goal full-back Brett Hodgson, was the loss of new signing Liam Fulton with a knee injury midway through the first half.

Both sides went into the game with just two defeats to their name.

But it was Rovers who made the early running as Huddersfield suffered a dreadful start.

A knock-on inside two minutes gifted Rovers an early chance and they took full advantage as Peter Fox just managed to stay infield to get a pass away for Welham to touch down.

David Hodgson broke away down the right as the Giants tried to produce an instant response.

But Rovers full-back Shaun Briscoe deflected his pass back inside and prevented Jamahl Lolesi from grabbing an equalising score.

Things got worse for Huddersfield as Fulton, making only his second appearance since his move from Wests Tigers, hobbled off after a high shot from Jake Webster.

The hosts immediately compounded Huddersfield’s problems as they pushed forward to score again with Webster setting up Colbon.

Michael Dobson missed his second touchline conversion and the Giants finally got a foothold in the game as Clint Newton dropped the ensuing kick-off.

Brett Hodgson then came to the fore and his high kick was taken superbly by Lawrence who outjumped Colbon for a well-executed try.

After Brett Hodgson converted, Luke Robinson then turned provider to create a second try for David Hodgson, with his bobbling kick sitting up nicely for the winger to pounce.

The Giants carried the momentum into the second half and looked comfortably the stronger side as Rovers’ legs began to fade.

Former Workington hooker Lunt capped a fine showing by throwing a dummy from acting half and crashing over for his side’s third try as a gap appeared right in front of the travelling Giants fans.

Brett Hodgson again added the extras and Rovers spent another 10 minutes on the back foot before Brown’s side broke through again.

David Faiumu sparked an attack from deep and Brett Hodgson sent Wild away for the clinching score.

Lawrence then put the seal on a dominant second-half display by taking a Dobson kick on his own 10m line and breaking clear.

The hooter sounded as he ran, but the centre had the pace to finish and Brett Hodgson, who earlier landed a penalty, added his fifth goal of the day.

Click here for pictures from the Hull KR match.