NATHAN BROWN is confident the same back line that secured Super League success over Castleford six weeks ago can fire the Giants into the semi-final of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The Galpharm chief has admitted the loss of his captain and influential England stand-off Kevin Brown with a knee injury for up to six weeks couldn’t have come at a worse time.

But he still has strike power at the back to get the job done, starting with Sunday’s quarter-final clash at Cas (3.30).

On June 5 at The Shay the Giants beat Cas 40-18 with the same squad as is available this weekend.

“It’s disappointing to lose such a key player as Kev, especially when we’ve just got Danny Brough back from injury,” said Brown, who will also be without injured second-rowers David Fa’alogo and Luke O’Donnell for two weeks.

“But we have shown that we can beat sides without him, including Castleford Tigers.

“Kev didn’t play when we beat them recently at The Shay, when Scott Grix and Leroy Cudjoe shared the stand-off role.

“And even when Broughy and Grixy went off injured in the second half of that game we remained in control.

“That’s because we’ve got more than one half-back combination available to us, with the players who come in comfortable in the role.

“That gives us a lot of confidence going into this game on Sunday.

“It’s a massive game, with a win taking us to within one game of Wembley, and I know we can get the job done.”