Super League preview: Bradford Bulls v Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield travel to Bradford for the final game of the Super League regular season already assured of top spot.
By Sam Drury
Last Updated: 06/09/13 1:27pm
In contrast, the Bulls head into the match having already missed out on the play-offs for the fifth successive season and defeat could see them finish as low as 11th.
Whilst the Giants have won their last four, and eight of their last nine, matches, Bradford have lost their previous three games including a 20-10 home reverse to bottom-of-the-table London Broncos last weekend.
The hosts bring in hooker Nathan Conroy and full-back Curtis Naughton for their final home game of the season. Brett Kearney, who has not recovered from a shoulder injury and Nick Scruton who will miss his first game of the season after dislocating his thumb against the Broncos are the players to miss out.
Poor
Bulls head coach Francis Cummins has called on his players to make amends from a poor showing against the Broncos and end the campaign on a high.
"We need a performance," he said. "We are still feeling the after effects of last weekend's display.
"It was undoubtedly our worst of the season and the fact is we weren't ready to play that game.
"The one positive I told the players in the dressing room after the game is that we get one more chance to put things right and put the smiles back on everyone's faces including our own."
Meanwhile, Huddersfield make a whole host of changes as coach Paul Anderson looks to rest some of his key players ahead of the play-offs.
Danny Brough, Shaun Lunt and Eorl Crabtree are amongst those who are given the weekend off with the clash with Wigan next Thursday very much in mind.
Bradford Bulls: Addy, Conroy, Diskin, Donaldson, Evans, Foster, Gale, Kear, Langley, Lulia, Manuokafoa, Mellor, Naughton, O'Brien, Olbison, Platt, Sammut, Walker, Wood
Huddersfield Giants: George, Faiumu, Lawrence, Ta'ai, Cording, Fairbank, Mullally, Dawson, Johnson, Aspinall, Mason, Blackmore, Connor, Leeming, Wood, Miller, Blagbrough, Simpson, Pick.