BRETT HODGSON insists the Giants will travel to St Helens on Friday night with confidence.
Huddersfield moved to within 80 minutes of the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 2 after their superb 34-22 triumph at Warrington.
Saints now stand in the way of making that dream become a reality.
But vastly-experienced Giants captain Hodgson knows his side are more than capable of getting the job done.
“We went into the game at Warrington with very few tipping us to beat them, and we know it’s going to be the same against St Helens,” said Hodgson.
“But, to be honest, that suits us fine.
“After winning at Warrington we’ll be going over there with confidence.
“It’s now seven wins on the bounce for us, so hopefully we can have another good day out.
“And, with the way things look, we should again be going out onto the field in reasonably good shape.
“At this stage of the year, no-one’s going to be fully fit, but we’re not looking too bad at all.”
Hodgson knows the key on Friday, however, is making sure the Giants learn the lessons from the second half at Warrington.
“We all enjoyed the first half immensely, but I think we were all worried throughout the second,” he added.
“I think there were a few of us out there close to heart attacks!
“But we only had ourselves to blame, to be honest.
“After leading 23-0 at half-time, we played in the second half like a team who was trying not to lose rather than one looking to win.
“We’ve got to learn from that.”
The Giants were coasting to victory after producing a near-perfect first 40 minutes courtesy of tries from Lee Gilmour, Kevin Brown, Danny Kirmond and Stephen Wild and three goals from Warrington-bound Hodgson.
But the Wolves staged a terrific comeback to cut the lead to 28-22 and were pushing for an equalising score before Leroy Cudjoe’s winning 90m interception try.
And Giants chief Nathan Brown also admitted that was a worry.
“We definitely lost our way a little bit,” admitted Brown.
“But I always had confidence in our defensive line.
“I thought from the first set we clearly dominated the physical part of the game and we scored some nice tries.
“The players should take a lot of pride in their performance because it goes without saying Warrington are a terrific team.
“I feel really happy for the players, some of whom have been at the club for years and years and gone through some pain. Some have had some floggings over the years.”
