Giants v Warriors: Teams

The top two in the Stobart Super League go head-to-head on Friday night as Huddersfield Giants take on the Wigan Warriors.

Both teams have 20 points from their opening 13 league fixtures, although it is the Warriors who are on top on points difference.

Wigan will be out for revenge against Nathan Brown's men having suffered a 20-16 defeat on home soil back in February.

Both teams progressed to the semi-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup last weekend and Brown's squad is in good shape for the visit of the league leaders.

Scrum-half Danny Brough is expected to be fit despite suffering a minor issue in their Challenge Cup quarter-final win over the London Broncos.

Second rower Dave Fa'alogo is fit and in contention to play while Luke George has recovered from the illness that forced him to miss their big win over the Broncos.

However, imposing Australian Luke O'Donnell remains in the treatment room with a back problem.

Confident

Huddersfield have faltered in the big games in the past and Brown admits the doubts will persist until they break their duck.

"Until we actually get our hands on a trophy with this group of players, negative or pessimistic people will say we're not good enough," he said.

"The reality is that we're a fair bit better team than we have been in the last three years but we have to maintain that.

"I'm very confident in the squad of players we've got. I feel we have a good balance."

Wigan welcome Darrell Goulding back to the squad after he missed the cup win over arch rivals St Helens with a slight strain.

Paul Prescott and Ben Flower are sidelined for up to six weeks each with knee ligament and hamstring injuries respectively and will play no part.

Head down

A ninth successive victory in all competitions would take Wigan two points clear and, although finishing positions no longer determine the title, coach Shaun Wane is desperate to get his hands on the League Leaders' Shield which eluded them last season.

"It's a good feeling (to be top)," he said. "We're halfway through the season so there's a long way to go and we don't pat ourselves on the back here.

"We've got to keep our head down and keep on working. But top spot means a lot to me because I'm old-fashioned and, when I played, that was the main thing.

"It's not held in high esteem by people now but for me personally it would be great for us to be minor premiers this year.

"Make no bones about it, this is a game we want to win to go two points clear and that is hugely important."

Giants squad: Grix, Lawrence, Cudjoe, Gilmour, McGillvary, Brown, Brough, Crabtree, Robinson, Mason, Fa'alogo, Faiumu, Patrick, Ferguson, Wardle, Chan, George, Eden, Moore

Warriors squad: Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Finch, Leuluai, McIlorum, Mossop, Hansen, Hock, O'Loughlin, Lima, Farrell, Tuson, Lauaki, Dudson, Gelling, Hughes, Crosby