Saturday 6th March 10

Wakefield Wildctas coach John Kear is hoping to erase the memory of his longest 40 minutes of the 2009 season when Huddersfield Giants visit Belle Vue tonight.

The Giants turned on the style against the Wildcats last May, running up a point a minute and keeping their opponents scoreless in the second half to condemn Kear's men to their heaviest defeat of the year.

"I still remember it," said Kear. "It went from 14-6 to 54-6 in the second half and was the longest 40 minutes of the season."

Huddersfield went on to achieve a best-ever third-place finish and Kear believes they will once more challenge for a Grand Final place despite suffering two defeats in their first four games.

"They're a really good team," he said. "I don't think Huddersfield flattered to deceive last year.

“They were justifiably the third best team on the ladder and, from what I've seen this year, their performances have been very good indeed. They might have posted only two wins but they've played very well."

The Giants have suffered a major blow with the loss of captain and inspirational full-back Brett Hodgson, the 2009 Man of Steel who damaged ankle ligaments in Sunday's defeat by Warrington Wolves, but Kear believes they have a handy replacement in Leroy Cudjoe as well as a pair of dangerous half-backs.

Cudjoe switched from the wing in Hodgson's absence at the Hearwell Stadium last May and scored 18 points in their 10-try romp and will aim for a repeat performance tonight.

"Brett Hodgson is an absolutely outstanding full-back but Luke Robinson is very creative and I think Kevin Brown has been a revelation this season," added Kear.

"So those two cause you problems and I think Leroy Cudjoe and Michael Lawrence are really exciting. They are two young British players who I suggest might be knocking on the door of the national team in the near future."