Huddersfield Giants’ Infirmary Cup challenge at Halifax will be led by a quartet of rising Super League stars against their hometown club.
Head coach Paul Anderson has revealed former Siddal juniors Jake Connor, Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dickinson and Oliver Roberts will feature at The Shay as part of what will be a youthful-looking Huddersfield line-up.
The full squad is expected to be finalised in the next 24 hours, with former New Zealand Test prop and big new signing Sam Rapira also ready for a run-out to get some match-fitness under his belt.
But with utility back Connor and hooker Leeming having already chalked up around 50 Super League appearances between them, former England Academy prop Dickinson having enjoyed a successful 2015 loan spell at Keighley Cougars and back-row forward Roberts eager to make his mark following impressive appearances for Ireland during the European Championships two months ago, Anderson expects all four of them to set the right example.
And he also knows how keen Roberts – who did make four Super League appearances for Bradford Bulls before moving to Huddersfield for the start of last season – is to finally make his Giants debut after failing to feature in 2015.
“Including players like this gives you a flavour of the way we’ll be going this weekend,” said Anderson.
“It’s going to be a young side, but one that’s going to be full of talent. The reason all the players in our squad are here is because they’re very good rugby league players.
“Everyone of them has aspirations to become a regular Super League player, and Sunday is a chance for them to prove how good they are.
“And it’ll also be good to see Oli Roberts, for example, finally pulling on a Huddersfield Giants shirt!”
