Giants v Bulls: Teams
Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield and Bradford will both hand debuts to a plethora of new recruits at the Galpharm on Friday.
Last Updated: 05/02/10 5:08pm
Huddersfield and Bradford will both have plenty of new faces in action on Friday night when they do battle in a Yorkshire derby.
Lee Gilmour, David Fa'alogo, Scott Grix and Graeme Horne have all been included in the Giants squad for the clash, which is live on Sky Sports.
The quartet are amongst a host of off-season recruits made by coach Nathan Brown as they look to build on a highly-successful 2009.
In his first year in charge, the Australian steered Huddersfield to third place in Super League and a trip to Wembley for the Challenge Cup final.
Tough pre-season
Gilmour, who has arrived from St Helens, is raring to go for his new employers as he gets set to face another of his former clubs in round one.
"It has been a tough pre-season but everyone is in great shape," he said on the club's website.
"We have some very skilful players and Mark Andrews the conditioner has helped us out in the gym. Hopefully, the work we have done will lead to good performances in the league."
The hosts are without Brad Drew, who has returned for a second spell at the club, Simon Finnigan, Stephen Wild and Danny Kirmond.
Bradford have included all four of their Australian imports in their 19-man party for the short trip to the Galpharm Stadium.
Matt Ordford and Brett Kearney will form a new-look half-back pairing while hooker Heath L'Estrange and second-rower Glenn Hall should fill places in the pack.
The Bulls missed the play-offs last term but have spent big in the winter months in the hope of pushing themselves back into the top eight.
Tough
Coach Steve McNamara, who this week named Andy Lynch as his new captain, is expecting a close battle between two sides with lofty ambitions.
"We played them twice last year and they were both very tough and entertaining games," he said.
"They were very close games at opposite ends of the season and in different circumstances. They were tight and very tough and I don't expect this one to be any different."
Prop Danny Sculthorpe, who spent a spell on loan at Huddersfield from Wakefield last year, and fuill-back Michael Platt are ruled out through injury.
However Stuart Reardon, who is back with team where he started his career, and Craig Kopczak are both fit to feature after picking up leg injuries in the pre-season win over Hull KR at Craven Park.
Huddersfield squad: B. Hodgson, Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Mason, Gilmour, Fa'alogo, Raleigh, D. Griffin, Lawrence, Faiumu, Grix, Aspinwall, Horne.
Bradford squad: Sykes, Langley, Sheriffe, Kopczak, Donaldson, Scruton, Menzies, Kearney, Godwin, L'Estrange, Halley, Nero, Lynch, Reardon, Hall, Crookes, Worrincy, Whitehead, Orford.