BIG Jim Gannon is looking to celebrate the escape of a suspension by guiding the Giants to Super League victory at home to Widnes Vikings on Sunday (5.30).

The in-form Australian was last night handed a `sending off sufficient' sentence following his dismissal for a high tackle on Nathan Sykes during Friday's 26-18 defeat at Castleford.

That means the 26-year-old is clear to continue his highly effective front-row partnership with Darren Fleary.

It's a combination which has laid the foundation for several Giants triumphs this year, and Gannon is delighted that they will again be standing side by side against the Vikings.

"It's obviously been an anxious few days, so last night's verdict came as a real relief," admitted the ex-Halifax prop.

"At full speed I could understand why Karl Kirkpatrick took the action against me, particularly as the game was hotting up at the time.

"But when you slow the incident down, it's clear the initial contact was on the shoulder and it was nothing more than a slap around Nathan's face.

"Fortunately, that was the view taken by the disciplinary and why I'm clear to play.

"However, I'm sure that if the incident had been placed on report, I'd have copped a one-match suspension.

"So, in that sense, I suppose things could have been worse.

"It's now up to me to make the most of this chance and play as full a role as possible between now and the end of the season.

"Although we're dependent on other teams slipping up, we're not out of the top six race yet, so there's still a lot at stake.

"I think I've gone all right this year and it would have been a massive disappointment to have ended it suspended.

"Hopefully, I've now still got three games left to help the Giants get as high up the Super League table as possible."

Had Gannon been banned, fellow prop Mick Slicker would have taken his place.

And the Australian has no doubts he would have done a top-quality job.

"Mick has played as full a part as Darren and me in the front row this season ," he added.

"He would have gone well from the start."