Young Huddersfield Giants prop Nathan Mason is set to play just his second Super League game in three years in Friday’s massive top-four clash at champions St Helens.

The 21-year-old front-row forward made his Huddersfield top-flight debut in the final fixture of the 2013 campaign as part of a makeshift side at Bradford Bulls a week after the Giants had clinched the Super League Leaders Shield.

Since then, he has spent the majority of his first-team time on dual registration at Kingston Press League I club Oldham.

But Giants boss Paul Anderson believes the Oldham-born youngster is ready to take the step up.

“At this stage, there’s a very good chance Nathan will play, and if he does I know he’ll give a very good account of himself,” said Anderson, who also confirmed Mason is expected to feature at Langtree Park at the expense of fellow prop Anthony Mullally.

“Nathan has had to be patient over the past couple of seasons, but it’s now got to the stage where we have to pick him, because he deserves to be picked.

“He’s been doing a very good job at Oldham, where his game has been developing all the time, and everyone at the Giants is confident he can take that form into Friday night’s game.”