It looked like we needed a match thread.

I wouldn't mind some more of McShane's kicks to the corner.

Our failure to turn the ball over in good positions/panic plays have cost us dearly in previous games against the Giants. As mentioned above I don't fear for our forwards, so if we can get the field position let's make them work for it - and you never know, prevent Brough's kicking and we have more than a chance.

Huddersfield have figured out Leeds's condensed defence. They're not afraid to go wide early in the tackle count and force defenders to work hard to get across.

Blitz up as a line, and they'll just kick wide and short in behind the winger.

Leeds need to defend with more space between defenders to counter that, but that will have the effect of preventing them piling numbers into the tackle to cut down the offloads from Crabtree et al.

It's a difficult balance to strike, and one of the reasons Huddersfield are going so well. They can hurt you when they have the ball in a number of different ways, and closing down one can open you up to the other.

one of our tactics is to kick early in the tackle count...so you will make more yards that way.

This feels like a low pressure game. I mean, we could really do with 2 points (unless you subscribe to the targetting 5th theory, which I don't). But we're short of some key players, fielding a lot of talented but inexperienced players and realistically we'll be expected to get a thumping.

With that in mind, the lads can go out and have a go with nothing much to lose. Teams that do that can be very dangerous. So Hudds will clearly be big favourites, but who knows what could happen?

Is ablett back? We will need his defensive efforts in the centre with moon missing.

Leeds have lost the last four straight V Huddersfield in All Comps. McDermott's Leeds have won only two from seven meetings and yet they also have a three wins from five record at the McAlpine/Galpharm/John Smith Stadium under this coach.

As Gilder pointed out Huddersfield have the game to get around Leeds' condensed defence which leaves the halves, centres and wingers on either side vulnerable to attacks in a variety of ways. It's a problem Leeds had under the previous Huddersfield coach and it appears one that remains under their current coach.

Added to that the lame effort at times up the middle V Widnes and it's looking a forgone conclusion without Huddersfield are reduced to ten or eleven men rather than their customary twelve.

Tend to agree. I guess BM will have been working on our defence around the ruck area and a plan for Brough's kicking. But like you said as underdogs for this one the pressure is off the youngsters who could be able to show us what they've got. Maybe its our turn to catch them on an offday.

Not one to usually write off Leeds' chances completely in games but this game doesn't look promising, our best hope might be Hudds taking the teamsheet we put out too lightly but considering they've had 2 weeks since their last game (which they disappointingly lost vs KR) then I think they'll be adequately up for this one. Maybe though Brough, without that nasty fella keeping him out of the national team, opposite him might lose some of that 'i'll prove a point and show them' attitude he seems to be playing with this year.

For the first time this year i'll say its not really about getting the 2 points but how some of the younger guys show up against a step up in opposition and away from Headingley too. McShane vs Lunt a contest to look out for especially.