SAINTS are under no illusions that their task tonight against an in-form Huddersfield Giants will be considerably tougher than last week’s turkey shoot against Hull FC.

Ian Watson’s Giants are a notoriously industrious outfit, who place a big emphasis on completing sets and putting the opposition in bad spots with their kicking game.

But off the back of that they have a backline with plenty of strike – with the likes of Jake Connor, Esan Marsters and former Saints pair Kevin Naiqama and Adam Swift all dangerous with the ball in hand.

Although Saints displayed patience of their own before cutting loose to win 28-0 in the reverse fixture at Huddersfield in February, the ruthless way in which Giants put Catalans away in the south of France a fortnight ago should act as a warning.

It is something Saints coach Wellens is keenly aware of as he prepares his side, currently second in a tight top end of Super League, for a tough run of games.

Wellens said: “Huddersfield are a team in-form at the moment. They are a team that's playing well and has got its confidence back.

“And it is not just the team, the individuals within the team are playing with confidence again, Jake Connor, for example, is finding some of his better form again.

“They are a dangerous team and since Ian Watson's arrived they have been a very workmanlike team who make themselves very difficult to beat first and if they get that side of the game right they have certainly got the individuals within the team who can trouble you.

“We're expecting a real test on Thursday night.”

Huddersfield’s efficient and industrious style of play has been described by some critics as boring, but Wellens disagrees.

“What Huddersfield tend to do is get to the end of the sets very well and they tend to be patient for opportunities and are very similar to us in that respect when we play close to all of us so,” he said.

“When we played them earlier on in the year, although the scoreline ended up 28 nil, for large parts of that game, it was very close. It was just 6-0 just before half time and went to 12-0 just after half time or so.

“It was very close for long period so we're well aware of what we're coming up against on Thursday.

“They are a very potent team who probably play the percentages a little bit more than others.

“They are prepared to be patient, but certainly when they get the ball in the right areas they can challenge you and get the ball to those strike players who can be really dangerous on an edge.

“I don't think they're a team that are afraid to challenge you with the ball, so that's something that we spoke about as a group and something that we have to deal with.”

St Helens 21-man squad vs Huddersfield Giants

1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Moses Mbye, 15. James Bell, 16. Curtis Sironen, 19. Matt Whitley, 20. George Delaney, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 25. Tee Ritson, 31. Noah Stephens.