GREG EDEN is hoping a top-quality performance against his former club will help signal the start of a bright Huddersfield Giants career.
The 21-year-old utility back will make his Huddersfield debut in tomorrow’s pre-season clash against Castleford Tigers at the PROBIZ Coliseum (8.00).
Eden turned down a new deal at the Tigers to make the move to the Galpharm for 2012 on a two-year contract.
And he’s hoping to lay down an early marker tomorrow night and keep on course for his target of at least 10 Super League appearances in Super League XVII.
“I’m feeling really good about myself at the moment,” said Eden, whose father Phil enjoyed successful spells at Wakefield and Doncaster.
“Pre-season training has been fantastic and I’m sure I’ve benefited from it.
“The sessions at the Giants are probably a bit more intense than they were at Cas. There’s more shorter and sharper sessions here.
“As a result, I’m sure my levels of fitness have improved, and tonight will the chance to put that to the test.
“I’ve set myself a target of at least 10 Super League games this season, and I know the better I play in the trial games, the more chance I’ve got of reaching that target.”
Although Eden can play a number of positions in the backs, he has spent a lot of time training at full-back.
He obviously faces the toughest of competition for the No1 shirt in the shape of Scott Grix.
But at this stage, he’s not focusing on that.
“I’ve spent a lot of time training at full-back, and that’s a position I’ve always liked to play,” added Eden.
“The rest of the time I’ve been training on the wing, which is where I played for Cas in Super League.
“But I’d be happy playing anywhere if I got a game.
“At this stage, I also don’t know exactly what role I’ll be playing tomorrow night.
“As I said, the key is to make a good early impression, and the fact it’s against my former club makes it even more exciting.”
Giants squad: Grix, Cudjoe, Gilmour, McGillvary, Brough, Crabtree, Robinson, Mason, Lunt, Wardle, Chan, Lee, George, Fairbank, A Walker, Molloy, Cording, Sarsfield, Eden, Johnson, F Walker.
