Brown keeping the faith

The Giants are the worst hit of all the clubs kicking off the new campaign under strength, with no fewer than eight players ruled out by injury and suspension.

Back-row forward Dale Ferguson became the latest casualty after damaging a knee in training and joins captain Kevin Brown (ankle) and forwards David Fa'alogo (back), David Faiumu (shoulder), Luke O'Donnell (knee), Keith Mason (groin) and Larne Patrick (wrist) on the sidelines.

With new signing Tony Tonks suspended, it leaves England international Eorl Crabtree as Huddersfield's only experienced prop following the departure of Darrell Griffin and Andy Raleigh.

Brown will therefore be forced to throw young forwards Adam Walker and Jacob Fairbank into the fray, alongside new signings Luke George and Greg Eden.

More than capable

Walker, Fairbank and former Castleford utility back Eden have just five Super League appearances between them but Brown believes they are ready for the challenge.

"We've got a more than capable squad," he said. "It's a mixture of young and experienced players.

"The younger players have all performed at Super League level - nobody is actually making their debuts - and, more importantly, their form in the friendlies has been good.

"It's probably exciting more than anything. I feel more inclined to look at what we've got than what we haven't got."

Another new signing, Tommy Lee, will step in at stand-off for Brown, with the acting captain set to come from a leadership group comprising Crabtree, Luke Robinson and Scott Grix.