Huddersfield v Leeds preview
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson believes the next three weeks could provide his "unfashionable" club with an opportunity to break into the big time.
The Giants won the league leaders' shield two years ago and have finished outside the top five just once in the last six seasons but they are still not generally regarded as one of Super League's big four.
Warrington are still ranked alongside Leeds, Wigan and St Helens, who have dominated the title between them for the last nine years, despite finishing sixth this season.
Anderson says that smacks of a lack of respect but a win over current table-toppers Leeds at the John Smith's Stadium on Friday night would earn them a home semi-final and put them in sight of a maiden Grand Final.
He believes that ought to finally win over the doubters. "We've managed over the last three years to put ourselves consistently in the top three or four," said Anderson.
"Do we get talked about as a top-four team? Probably not because we're unfashionable. "When people talk about the big clubs out there, they don't mention Huddersfield which I think is disrespectful to us.
"We've got an opportunity to go out there and show everybody what we're about. "If we win three games, it might be the stepping stone we need to push this club to the next level. "We've got a good core of support but we need to double our numbers and then we can become self-sufficient and less reliant on our chairman."
In the closest finish to a season in the era of Super League, all four semi-finalists go into the final round of matches with a chance of lifting the leaders' shield and a helicopter may be needed to take the trophy to its rightful destination.
Huddersfield can clinch top spot if they condemn Leeds to a fourth straight defeat and Wigan lose at home to Castleford in a match that kicks off at the same time, but Anderson is refusing to consider all the permutations.
"I've only got 10 fingers and toes, it's too much thinking for me," he said. "All I know is that we've got to win for a home semi."
The Rhinos are in danger of imploding for a second successive year after lifting the Challenge Cup at Wembley but Anderson says they will not be under-estimated.
"Leeds have been the form team all year and blew a team away in the Challenge Cup final," he said.
"Their results since have not been what they wanted but the players who got them to where they are are still there.
"To lose three games straight and still be top of the league shows you where they've been at. We'll treat them with a lot of respect and prepare for them to be at their best."
Huddersfield are boosted by the return of England second-rower Brett Ferres, while Leeds have included Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield despite injury doubts over the veteran playmakers.
Huddersfield Giants: Danny Brough, Jodie Broughton, Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe, Jamie Ellis, Brett Ferres, Scott Grix, Craig Huby, Jack Hughes, Craig Kopczak, Michael Lawrence, Kruise Leeming, Jermaine McGillvary, Aaron Murphy, Oliver Roberts, Luke Robinson, Daniel Smith, Ukuma Ta'ai.
Leeds Rhinos: Carl Ablett, Tom Briscoe, Rob Burrow, Adam Cuthbertson, Mitch Garbutt, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Jimmy Keinhorst, Kylie Leuluai, Jordan Lilley, Danny McGuire, Joel Moon, Jamie Peacock, Kevin Sinfield, Brad Singleton, Josh Walters, Robbie Ward, Stevie Ward, Kallum Watkins.
