Super League preview: Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos
Huddersfield Giants will be looking to maintain their excellent run of form against Leeds Rhinos on Friday.
Last Updated: 07/03/14 7:49pm
The Giants beat Leeds home and away last season, along with knocking Brian McDermott's men out of the Tetley's Challenge Cup.
Giants head coach Paul Anderson could field an unchanged side for the clash at the John Smith's Stadium.
Huddersfield have named the same 19-man squad as last week when the 2013 table-toppers suffered a late 22-20 defeat at Widnes Vikings.
"Because of the size of our squad we don't have the option of making too many changes," said Anderson.
"On top of that, a couple of disappointing performances doesn't make us a bad team, and I know those who played at Widnes last week are desperate to put things right against Leeds."
First appearance
Leeds' Jamie Jones-Buchanan could make his first appearance of the season after overcoming a torn calf muscle ahead of Friday's short trip across the M62.
The forward has not played since last season's play-off defeat at Wigan and missed the World Cup with England due to a knee injury.
He was due to make a full return at the start of the season only to suffer a torn calf on the eve of the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal.
Australian forward Mitch Achurch has been drafted back into the squad with Liam Sutcliffe joining Bradford Bulls on a month's loan. Ben Jones-Bishop misses out once again.
"It has probably been the longest lay-off I've ever had, so there's a few nerves going into this week," Jones-Buchanan told the YEP. "The team has been fantastic, everybody's playing real well and there's real competition for places."
Huddersfield Giants: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Kopczak, Ferres, Chan, Bailey, Lawrence, Faiumu, Ta'ai, Wood, Broughton, Kaufusi, Johnson.
Leeds Rhinos: Hardaker, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Ward, Delaney, Bailey, Clarkson, Achurch, Briscoe, Singleton.
Don't miss any of the action from the John Smith's Stadium on Friday as Huddersfield Giants host Leeds Rhinos live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm
