Warriors v Giants: Teams
Gareth Hock is set to return from a two-year drugs ban when Wigan take on Huddersfield at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Last Updated: 24/06/11 4:34pm
Gareth Hock is set to return from a two-year drugs ban when Wigan take on fellow Super League high-flyers Huddersfield at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has been named in Michael Maguire's 19-man squad for the clash, which pits the second-placed Giants against the defending champions.
Second-rower Hock, who has been at Wigan his whole career, tested positive for cocaine in June 2009 but signed a new five-year deal with the club one month before his suspension ended.
Hock's return is the only change made by Maguire from the resounding 32-10 defeat of local rivals St Helens last time out.
Chris Tuson was given a one-game suspension following an incident in that game and is the player who makes way for the former England international.
The Giants have won away at Wigan in each of the last three seasons and Maguire is expecting another tough challenge.
Physical
"They've always been tough ones and very physical. They're a team that shift the ball around and put on some decent play. We're expecting nothing different this weekend," he said.
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown has named an unchanged squad for the showdown, which has been branded 'The Big One 3' and can be seen live on Sky Sports.
The Giants secured a 28-20 win over Catalan Dragons last Saturday to stay level on points with Warrington at the top of the table. Wigan are one point back in third place but still have a game in hand over the two teams above them.
Brown says he will know exactly what to expect from Hock despite his time spent away from the sport, although he does not expect the forward to be in top form.
He said: "I'm well aware that Gareth Hock is quite a fine player. The reality is Wigan have got a lot of good players and, whether Gareth Hock plays or Liam Farrell plays, it's not for us to really worry about.
"Obviously when a bloke hasn't played for two years he's not going to be near his best but he's very physical and keen. He's quite an aggressive player and adds something to their team."
Wigan squad: S. Tomkins, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Deacon, Leuluai, McIlorum, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, O'Loughlin, Prescott, Lima, Hoffman, Finch, Mossop, Farrell, Charnley, Hock.
Huddersfield squad: Grix, Lawrence, Cudjoe, Gilmour, Hodgson, Brown, Crabtree, Robinson, Griffin, Fa'alogo, Faiumu, Lunt, Mason, Kirmond, Patrick, Horne, McGillvary, Wardle, Ferguson.