PAUL ANDERSON is putting the Giants through final preparations for tomorrow’s trip to Harlequins and told them: “We have to be ready for war.”
Rob Powell’s side are the only Super League outfit with a 100% record after three matches and Anderson says they deserve respect as the table toppers.
He’s confident, however, that if the Giants continue to cut down on errors and brush up further on the performance which brought a 20-10 win against Hull FC, they will have every chance of taking two points from the live Sky TV outing at The Stoop (8.00).
“Harlequins work hard for each other and I think people have been under-estimating them – so it’s all about us respecting the opposition and respecting the game,” said the Giants assistant.
“We had a good result week one, let ourselves down in week two and then picked ourselves up again for the win against Hull when we were rewarded for our efforts – so we have to back that up in Round Four.
“Harlequins fully deserve to be where they are because of the performances they’ve put in, so we have got to go there mentally and physically ready to go to war.
“It’s going to be a big battle and if we take anything lighter than that then we will come unstuck.”
Anderson confirmed the Giants are injury-free for the trip to the capital and expects genuine focus from the final 17.
“We are not the sort of team and group that takes people lightly, we know what the required effort is and we know what happens when we don’t produce it – you get hurt,” he added.
“We are a good team who work hard for each other, just like Harlequins, and that was evident in weeks one and three (against Warrington and Hull FC).
“Our form in the last match just needs to be picked up again and used as a stepping stone, because if we keep improving week by week we will give ourselves every chance.
“There are little things we have picked up on since last weekend, certain things in attack which we can shape up on, but the pleasing thing is giving ourselves the opportunity to challenge.”
Anderson says the short turn-around between matches is not a problem, especially with everyone battling for places.
“We have a really fit group of players because of all the work which has been put in over the pre-season and it gets them ready for two games in six days,” he explained.
“The way we train and the way we recover also helps in that, we are generally not too bad on the long trips either and we need to keep improving on what we’ve done already.
“We have a strong squad and there is competition for places right the way through. We have squad numbers up to No37 and every one of them will tell you they are worth a place in the starting side.”
On Keith Mason’s omission from the 17 against Hull FC, Anderson added: “We have a strong squad, so it’s going to be rotational. He won’t be out for too long.”
