Giants v Tigers: Teams
Nathan Brown is taking little notice of Castleford¿s recent form ahead of their showdown.
Last Updated: 30/05/09 1:40pm
Nathan Brown is taking little notice of Castleford's recent form as he bids to secure a seventh Carnegie Challenge Cup title for Huddersfield.
The Giants overcame their opponents 26-24 in a thriller at the Jungle earlier in the season and have gone on to prove themselves a real force in Super League this season.
A 38-12 win over the Rochdale Hornets secured their quarter-final berth and, despite going down to a shock defeat at home to the Salford City Reds thereafter, Brown's side bounced back in resounding style with a 54-6 demolition away against Wakefield.
The Tigers go into their biggest game of the season on the back of three consecutive defeats in the league, meanwhile, but Brown is expecting a closely-contested West Yorkshire derby.
"Castleford are a side that play some good footie," he said. "They've gone down to some close games in the last few weeks but they haven't been beaten by much against some good opposition. It will be a tough game.
"Obviously this is a big game - win it and then you're one game away from Wembley."
Brown recalls prop Paul Jackson in place of loan second-rower Lee Mossop, who is cup-tied, and welcomes back skipper Brett Hodgson, who has missed the last three games with a leg injury.
Belief
Castleford coach Terry Matterson believes his side are genuine contenders, though, and is hoping to end the club's 17-year wait for another trip to Wembley.
The Tigers are playing Super League opposition for the first time in the competition this season after overcoming Keighley and Halifax in earlier rounds - the latter in sudden-death extra time - to give Matterson his best run in the tournament in his four seasons with the club.
"We had a kind draw in the first round and sort of a kind draw last time but we made hard work of it," he said.
"I'm very excited about this and so is the town and the players. You can feel it. This game means everything. It's a great occasion and a great opportunity.
"They've been in very good form and we've been in pretty good form as well. The teams are evenly matched.
"We're pretty confident. Although we've lost three in a row, we're not far away. It's going to come down to whoever does the little things right."
Castleford are boosted by the return from injury of loose forward Ryan McGoldrick, the club's acting captain, full-back Richard Owen, hooker Kirk Netherton and utility man Dean Widders.
And Rangi Chase is set to switch to scrum-half in the absence of Brent Sherwin, who is ruled out with an ankle injury.
Castleford squad: Owen, Dixon, Shenton, Evans, Wainwright, Chase, Sargent, Huby, Ferres, Clayton, Westerman, Jones, Higgins, Feather, Netherton, Ford, Faumuina, McGoldrick, Widders