Giants v Rhinos: Teams
Leeds coach Brian McClennan has dropped Lee Smith for the Super League champions' game at Huddersfield on Sunday.
Last Updated: 09/02/08 12:01pm
Huddersfield face the tall order of starting their campaign with a clash against reigning champions Leeds.
The Giants head into the tough opener off the back of a successful pre-season that saw them register wins over Hull, Castleford and Batley.
Starting against the title holders is nothing new for Jon Sharp's side. They faced St Helens in their first game in 2007, suffering a narrow defeat that started a horrible run of results.
However, they recovered to finish in the top six, and a play-off place will once again be their target this year.
New signings Paul Whaturia, Luke Robinson and George Gatis should all make their Huddersfield debuts on Sunday.
David Hodgson, another off-season recruit, will not feature though through injury. The former Salford man suffered knee ligament damage in a training session and will be sidelined for six months.
Martin Aspinwall is also absent from squad as he is still recovering from knee surgery.
Sinfield cleared
Leeds make the short trip to the Galpharm Stadium boosted by the availability of Kevin Sinfield.
The Rhinos captain was found guilty of a careless tackle during Leeds' 20-12 win over Hull KR at Headingley last Saturday.
However the offence was graded only category A and he has been told by an RFL disciplinary tribunal that he will face no further action.
Sinfield will be joined in the Leeds pack by Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who has overcome a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the opening fixture against the Robins.
Coach Brian McClennan has made two changes to his 18-man squad from last week's opening day win over Hull KR. Ryan Hall replaces Lee Smith on the wing whilst young prop Luke Burgess is included at the expense of Nick Scruton.
"Ryan and Lee Smith have been going toe to toe as they fight for the position in the team, as has every player in the team," said McClennan.
"Ryan deserves his chance this week, as Lee did last week, with his performances in training and the good things he did in the South Sydney game."
Huddersfield 20-man squad: Thorman, Elford, Whaturia, Brown, Robinson, Crabtree, Gatis, Skandalis, Lolesi, Raleigh, Wild, Jones, Jackson, Mason, Snitch, Griffin, Hudson, Cudjoe, Lawrence, Jensen.
Leeds 18-man squad: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Hall, Burgess.
