FOCUSED Giants coach Jon Sharp will go into tonight's Super League home clash against Salford City Reds (7.30) admitting he wants to make life difficult for one of his oldest and closest rugby league friends.

A decade ago Sharp and City Reds boss Karl Harrison were big teammates at Hull for over three seasons.

But tonight, Super League's two newest head coaches are aiming to do whatever they can to get the better of each other.

Sharp admits it's a ruthless job, but he is not about to let sentiment get in the way as he bids to secure a win which will keep the Giants firmly cemented in the top six.

"I've got a lot of sympathy for Karl, he's having to do it tough at Salford right now," said Sharp.

"They haven't had a win since their excellent victory over Widnes in the opening round of Super League back in February.

"But they've come close on a number of occasions, and I don't think their second win is too far away at all.

"I just hope it doesn't come against us.

"I've got a tremendous amount of time for Karl. We were great mates during our time together at Hull and our wives are best friends.

"But you can't afford to let sentiment get in the way of trying to win a Super League match.

"No doubt we'll have a drink together after the game and will wish each other the very best for the rest of the season, but during the 80 minutes of action we'll both be doing everything within our power to make sure victory is ours.

"The stakes are pretty high.

"From what I've seen on video, Karl has made Salford a very well-drilled team, and I expect them to be very tough opponents tonight."

Salford have played a total of six games so far this season.

After opening their campaign with a 24-12 triumph at home to Widnes, they have suffered five successive defeats.

First, they bowed out of the Challenge Cup at the fourth-round stage at London Broncos (24-8) and have then lost in Super League to Wigan (20-10), Wakefield (27-20), London (35-30) and Bradford (25-18).

But against the Bulls at Odsal last Friday night, it took a try with seven minutes remaining from Lesley Vainikolo to secure victory for the world champions.

And that alone makes Sharp very wary of the Reds' obvious threat.

"It's not every team who can make life so difficult for the Bulls, " added the McAlpine chief.

"That's certainly something that hasn't gone unnoticed over here.

"They worked tremendously well together as a team, and their half-back pairing of Gavin Clinch and Cliff Beverley is capable of threatening any side.

"Beverley was the star at Odsal because of his hat trick, but they came off the back of an excellent kicking game from Clinch.

"We have to be alive to the threat that he poses to us."

Australian Clinch is, of course, a former Giants player.

He is joined in the Salford squad by two other ex-Huddersfield men in the shape of Marty Moana and Andy Johnson.

Huddersfield Giants (from): Reilly, Cooper, O'Hare, Bailey, Nero, Donlan, St Hilaire, Gene, March, Slicker, Gannon, Turner, Penkywicz, Fleary, Crabtree, Roartys, Jones, Smith, Costin.

Salford City Reds (from): Fitzpatrick, Kirk, Naylor, Littler, Stewart, Beverley, Clinch, Baynes, Alker, Rutgerson, Coley, Baldwin, Shipway, Charles, Moana, Johnson, Highton, Haggerty, Myler.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield).

* The Giants ticket office will be open ahead of Town's home clash against Southend tomorrow between noon and 3.00 for fans to buy the remaining Challenge Cup semi-final tickets.

GIANTS winger Hefin O'Hare has been installed by McAlpine betting agents CP Yorkshire Ltd as the favourite to open the tryscoring in tonight's contest.

The 24-year-old Welshman is quoted at 4-1, while they are offering odds of 12-1 for O'Hare to strike first and for the Giants to win by a margin of nine to 12 points.