Giants v Rhinos: Teams
Huddersfield will be looking to build on a 30-8 win at Hull KR on Easter Monday when second take on third-placed Leeds.
Last Updated: 17/04/09 2:44pm
Huddersfield will be looking to build on a 30-8 win at Hull KR on Easter Monday when second take on third-placed Leeds at the Galpharm.
Saints and Hull FC remain the only teams to have beaten the Giants this season and they come into the West Yorkshire derby on the back of six straight wins, including a 46-6 Carnegie Challenge Cup triumph against Harlequins.
Stand-off Kevin Brown (ankle), Martin Aspinwall (knee) and Danny Kirmond (ankle) are all back and pushing for a start, while Paul Whatuira is also in contention after being rested.
However, they will be without Liam Fulton after a promising start to his Huddersfield career was curtailed by a knee ligament injury.
The Australian stand-off or second rower faces 10 weeks on the sidelines after hobbling out of the victory at Hull KR.
Coach Nathan Brown believes the Rhinos will provide his squad with their sternest test to date.
"It's going to be a big challenge, probably the biggest game Huddersfield have had this year," he said. "The guys have put themselves in a really good position but obviously Leeds are always up there.
"Hopefully we can get a good crowd and get out there and do our best. It'll be a good test for us and give us an indication of how well we are going."
Consecutive defeats
In contrast, champions Leeds have endured a difficult Easter, slumping to consecutive defeats against Salford and Bradford.
Two turnovers against Saints - one in the Challenge Cup - takes them to the Galpharm Stadium on the back of four losses in five matches.
And though injuries have not helped the Rhinos' cause, winger Scott Donald is fit to return from a calf injury.
Grand Final star Lee Smith remains sidelined, though, and youngster Ben Jones-Joseph drops out of the travelling party.
Brian McClennan's men ran out 30-10 victors in the corresponding fixture at the start of last season, but the Giants have proved a markedly improved force in 2009 and will be keen to add to Leeds' current woe.
However, McClennan believes his players can pick themselves up after their recent setbacks to put Huddersfield to the sword.
"We are in a positive mood," he said. "We know what our ability is and the potential of what we can do as a group of people. We are really determined to get out there at Huddersfield and play our best rugby.
"We have reviewed Huddersfield and we know they are playing really well. They are full of confidence after their recent run of good results and we know we will be in for a big challenge.
"Huddersfield have got a good kick-chase game which we will need to combat. They do the fundamentals of the game very well and that is something we need to improve on."
Huddersfield squad: B. Hodgson, Aspinwall, Brown, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Robinson, Crabtree, Faiumu, D. Griffin, Lolesi, Wild, Finnigan, Jackson, Mason, Kirmond, Lawrence, Moore, Cudjoe, Lunt.
Leeds squad: Webb, Donald, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield, Diskin, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Burgess, Gibson, Watkins.