Hodgson eyes Saints upset

Hodsgon: Optimistic for Challenge Cup

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Huddersfield captain Brett Hodgson is confident the Giants can cause an upset against St Helens in the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final on August 9.

The Giants have been one of Super League's surprise packages this season - winning 16 out of their 23 matches - and they will be looking to break Saints' stranglehold on the competition.

Saints are aiming to lift the Challenge Cup for a fourth consecutive year - a run that started with their 42-12 victory over Huddersfield in 2006 - and although the Giants go into the match as the "form side", Mick Potter's men are two points clear at the top of the Super League.

Hodgson said: "They have a superb record but every year is different and sometimes the records are there to be broken.

"At our best I am very confident that we can go out there and play very well. We have played well this last six weeks."

Saints could find themselves without captain Keiron Cunningham who is hoping to avoid joining Jason Cayless, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Sean Long and James Roby on the sidelines.

"They're probably lacking a bit of experience at the moment with some of their key players out but they're still a quality side," added Hodgson.

"I have no doubt Mick Potter will try to rush back as many players as possible. There's a rumour that James Roby is going to be there and, if he is, he's going to add strength to their squad."