ONE look at the current Co-operative Championship table is enough to prove to the Giants that they can’t afford to take Batley Bulldogs for granted.

Eight rounds into the season and the men from Mount Pleasant are third in the table with five wins to their name, including big home victories over Widnes (32-12), Hunslet (38-12) and Dewsbury (28-0).

Karl Harrison’s men have also notched up some notable away wins, including a 30-22 triumph at Barrow Raiders and 26-25 success at Halifax.

But with injuries starting to bite, their performances over the past few weeks have been stuttering.

After winning 36-20 at Dewsbury on Maundy Thursday, the bruised Bulldogs suffered a 28-16 Easter Monday home defeat at the hands of Sheffield Eagles and then went down 36-12 at Leigh Centurions last Sunday.

But Batley do, of course, boast some outstanding recent knockout form, having defied all the odds to lift the Northern Rail Cup last season.

If they can rediscover that spirit this weekend, then the Giants will know they’ve been in a game!

ALEX BROWN will not be lacking any motivation when he takes to the field for Batley this weekend.

Having been on the Super League books of hometown club Huddersfield, the 23-year-old winger will be desperate to make a big impact against the Giants.

The powerful outside back made his first-team Super League XIV debut in the narrow 12-10 defeat at St Helens in 2009.

But he then spent the following year on a dual-registration deal with Batley, when he scored the winning try in the Bulldogs’ Northern Rail Cup win over Widnes, before making the move permanent.

KARL HARRISON remains one of the most respected coaches in rugby league.

The 46-year-old made his name as a no-nonsense prop forward with Hull, Halifax and Great Britain before cutting his coaching teeth as an assistant at Bradford Bulls.

He then took over at Super League side Salford City Reds where he spent five years before taking over as head coach of Batley Bulldogs two years ago.

And in just over a season, Harrison had worked his magic by leading Batley to a historic Northern Rail Cup title in 2010, their first piece of major silverware in 86 years.

Ground name: Mount Pleasant, Heritage Way.

Ground directions: Take the A62 from Huddersfield following the signs to Leeds, continuing past the Three Nuns pub and then Whiteleys Garden Centre on the left. Carry on through five sets of traffic lights (approximately three miles), having past the Swan pub and Healds Hall on your left. After passing fields on your left and the Robin Hood aquatic centre on your right, turn right at the traffic lights (next to the new Shama restaurant) onto White Lee Road. Continue for about one mile until the traffic lights at the end. Turn left onto Healey Road/West Park Road and continue for another one mile to a set of traffic lights at the bottom of the hill. Drive straight through and then past Fox’s Biscuits (after 400m) on your right and then take the next right, with the Batley ground at the top of the hill on the left.

Sat Nav checker: WF17 7NZ.

Lost and need directions? Call Batley Bulldogs on 01924 470062.

Car parking? There is parking at the ground, as well as on-street parking.