Saints v Giants: Teams

St Helens and Huddersfield clash in the second qualifying play-off knowing a win would give them the added bonus of an extra week off.

Saints, who finished second behind Leeds in the regular season, will be hoping to make the most of home advantage on Saturday evening.

However Mick Potter's side were stunned in front of their own fans by Catalans Dragons last time out.

Centre Matt Gidley insists things will be different now it's the play-offs, though, as Saints look to reach the Grand Final for the fourth successive year.

Potential

"We were very disappointed with our performance at the weekend but it's a new competition now," he said. "It's a big game and we're back at home and hopefully we can play to our potential.

"The stakes are higher now. We were lucky that we were consistent in the first two thirds of the season to get ourselves in a good position in the top two.

"We've been a bit inconsistent of late but we'd like to turn that around on Saturday night. I'm sure the boys are going to be up for it."

Saints are boosted by the return of James Graham from a shoulder problem while Paul Wellens could also overcome a quad injury in time to play.

Huddersfield may have lost to St Helens twice in Super League this year but did manage a sensational victory over their opponents in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.

Although they lost in the final to Warrington, the Giants proved they weren't suffering from a cup hangover last weekend with a 48-16 win over Wigan.

Confidence

"The game against Wigan was a good result for us," coahc Nathan Brown said. "To score the points we did was pleasing and we feel we're going to St Helens with a bit of momentum and some confidence.

"The players are going into the game believing they're a good chance, that's the most pleasing aspect.

"I think at times in the past, with a lot of sides when they play Leeds and St Helens, they think they're beaten before they go out.

"So I'm pleased we're going to have a good positive mindset and we're going to be able to give ourselves an opportunity."

Brown is forced to do without Scott Moore, who is on a season-long loan from Saints, and Keith Mason, as the pair are serving an internal suspension.

David Faiumu is also absent with a hamstring injury, meaning Shaun Lunt is likely to start at hooker. But Simon Finnigan is available after his wrist injury was discovered to be less serious than first thought.

St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Meli, Pryce, Long, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Puletua, Clough, Eastmond, Fa'asavalu, Ashurst, Emmitt.

Huddersfield squad: B. Hodgson, Aspinwall, Whaturia, D. Hodgson, Fulton, Robinson, Crabtree, D. Griffin, Raleigh, Wild, Finnigan, P. Jackson, Lawrence, Cudjoe, Lunt, J. Griffin, Carlile, Sculthorpe, Larne.