Giants v Hull KR: Teams

Jackson: Set for a tough encounter

We want to be up near the top end and hopefully start separating from some sides in the league table.

Paul Jackson
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Huddersfield v Hull KR
Watch the engage Super League clash live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm on Friday.

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• Hull K R

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Huddersfield prop Paul Jackson insists the Giants will keep "plugging away" as they look to strengthen their play-off place.

The Giants will get a chance to underline their title potential when they entertain Hull KR at the Galpharm Stadium on Friday.

The Robins have climbed to second in the engage Super League, three points ahead of Huddersfield.

But the Giants go into the game full of confidence, having reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and reached fourth in the table.

And although Jackson is expecting a tough encounter in the Sky Sports televised clash, he knows a win will help cement their place in the top-four.

"They are a good side and fully deserve to be up in second place. They have got some very good players and are a very tough side to beat; we did well against them on Easter Monday at their place, though," he told the club's official site.

"They are obviously coming off a tough game against Warrington, which went to golden point extra time, so I'm sure it's going to be a good battle on Friday.

"The cup is a one-off game, but we know as far as the league goes we have to keep plugging away each week and picking up points. We want to be up near the top end and hopefully start separating from some sides in the league table."

Brett Hodgson and Jamahl Lolesi are both missing from the squad that overcame Castleford, however Shaun Lunt and Leroy Cudjoe come into contention.

On-loan Wigan forward Lee Mossop is also available after being cup-tied - however there is no place in the squad for fellow loanee Danny Sculthorpe.

Stitches

Nick Fozzard has overcome an ankle problem to take his place in the Hull KR squad to face the fourth-placed Giants.

The former Saints prop suffered the injury in the Challenge Cup loss over Warrington but he has been cleared to play.

Fellow forward Jason Netherton has also passed a fitness test to play after receiving 17 stitches in his knee after the game against Wigan, however captain Mick Vella has been ruled out of the trip across the M62.

Jake Webster has been included in the squad, although he will face a late check up on a damaged hamstring.

There is also a recall for Ben Cockayne, who is named in the Robins squad for the first since he was charged with assault in April.

Huddersfield Giants squad: Aspinwall, Brown, Whaturia, D Hodgson, Robinson, Crabtree, Faiumu, D Griffin, Raleigh, Wild, Finnigan, P Jackson, Mason, Kirmond, Lawrence, Moore, Cudjoe, Lunt, Mossop.

Hull Kingston Rovers squad: Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon, Cooke, Dobson, Fozzard, Fisher, Newton, Galea, Gene, Walker, Murrell, Fitzhenry, Aizue, Netherton, Cockayne, Mills.