Craig Huby v Ben Flower
With Larne Patrick released to complete a loan move to Castleford, the onus will ironically be on a former Tigers player to lead Huddersfield’s forwards into battle on Thursday. Craig Huby will have to do some big minutes and produce a big performance if the Giants are to get the upper hand early on against a Warriors pack which is renowned for its size. Huddersfield’s young forwards will also have a big ask on their hands from the bench too, as the Giants look to make it two wins in a row against stern opposition in Shaun Wane’s Warriors.
Jermaine McGillvary v Josh Charnley
It’s the battle of two England wingers at the DW Stadium tonight too, as Jermaine McGillvary locks horns with Josh Charnley. With Charnley heading to rugby union at the end of the season, this is an opportunity for McGillvary to showcase his international talent against a guy he may have been in direct competition for a role with had Charnley stayed in Rugby League. Charnley’s move to the left side has brought some good form out of him, but he’ll have a huge challenge on his hands tonight to keep McGillvary quiet.
Matty Smith v Ryan Brierley
It’s not necessarily a head-to-head battle, but the kicking game of Matty Smith will be crucial tonight as the Giants roll into town. Ryan Brierley has made a decent enough start to life as a Super League player, but he will have to be on form tonight in case the Warriors decide to target him via Smith’s kicking. That will be a key battle that goes a long way to determining whether the Giants can make it two wins in a row, or whether the Warriors can move to the top of the table if they win.
