Giants v Hull: Teams
Joe Walsh is set to make his Giants debut in Friday's home game live on Sky Sports 2.
Last Updated: 06/03/09 2:25pm
Joe Walsh is set to make his Huddersfield Giants debut in Friday's home game against Hull FC live on Sky.
The 21-year-old former Harlequins back row forward looks the most likely replacement for the injured Simon Finnigan in Nathan Brown's 19-man squad.
Ireland international Finnigan damaged knee ligaments in the 16-12 win at Bradford last time out and is expected to be out for six weeks.
Prop Darrell Griffin also drops out of the squad with back row forward Larne Patrick coming in and centre Michael Lawrence back after recovering from concussion.
Brown's reign began with a resounding 30-8 triumph at Catalans Dragons and has seen just one defeat against St Helens thus far.
The Giants have four points from their three games and can draw level with their opposition with victory at the Galpharm.
Incentive
Richard Agar's Hull FC side has made a perfect start to the season so far with victories against Celtic Crusaders, Wigan and Catalans, despite their Australian star Todd Byrne being ruled out for the season with anterior cruciate ligament damage to his knee.
New signing Sam Moa is set to make his debut in West Yorkshire, while loose forward Danny Washbrook also returns from a hamstring strain.
Second rower Willie Manu is expected to start in place of Mike Burnett meanwhile, who is out of action for up to six weeks with an ankle injury, and Moa could take his place on the bench.
Former Giants captain Chris Thorman makes a swift return to the Galpharm and is aware of the task facing his new side.
"Huddersfield have started very much with the bit between their teeth and this is a big test for us," he said.
"They are a team who make you earn every inch. They are enthusiastic and aggressive defensively and their line speed is good."
The Airlie Birds can go top of the early Super League XIV standings with victory so there will be no questioning the motivation of Agar's men ahead of this crunch encounter.
Huddersfield squad: B. Hodgson, Aspinwall, Brown, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Robinson, Faiumu, Lolesi, Raleigh, Wild, Jackson, Mason, Korkidas, Kirmond, Lawrence, Moore, Cudjoe, Walsh, Patrick.
Hull squad: Hall, Calderwood, G. Horne, Yeaman, Briscoe, R. Horne, Thorman, Dowes, Berrigan, Cusack, Manu, Tickle, Radford, Houghton, Moa, Thackray, Lee, Maloney, Washbrook.