McGillvary will leave it late in hope of being fit for Leigh

The prolific winger missed last week’s humiliating 48-8 home defeat to Hull FC after picking up a quad injury in their earlier win over Wakefield Trinity.

It was supposed to keep him out for up to six weeks but he feels he could return as soon as at Leigh Centurions this evening.

“I’ll do some testing on Friday afternoon and see how I get through that,” said McGillvary, who was in the Huddersfield side shocked 48-40 at Leigh in last year’s Qualifiers, the result that secured their Championship opponents’ promotion.

“Last year I had a similar injury and was back in six weeks instead of 12.

“I am a good healer and this time I’m hoping to miss just one match but we’ll wait and see.

“We all want to get out there and make up for last week as that result was shocking. We had players missing through injury but that’s no excuse really.

“Hull played decent but we weren’t at the races from minute one and we need to get some pride back.

“Likewise, Leigh blew us away at their place last season, too.

“We know what to expect from them; they are a good side with a big, aggressive pack and it’s important we get the performance right.”

Huddersfield have back-row Ukuma Ta’ai returning from suspension while captain Leroy Cudjoe, full-back Lee Gaskell and winger Aaron Murphy all hope to join McGillvary back in the side after absences.

Former Leigh favourite Ryan Brierley, meanwhile, is bracing himself for a barracking as he prepares to face his old club for the first time since his acrimonious departure.

The prolific half-back scored 133 tries for the Centurions in just over four seasons from 2012-16 but was suspended by the club 12 months ago after handing in his notice to quit and subsequently joined Huddersfield on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

“I understand I’m going to cop a bit of abuse, that’s natural when former players return to their old club, but I’ll take it in my stride,” Brierley said. “I’m also going to be respectful to the fans who supported me for so long.”

Brierley, who turns 25 this weekend, left the Centurions to pursue his ambition of playing in the top flight and was delighted to see his old club join him after they clinched promotion against Huddersfield in that Super 8s Qualifiers last September.

Brierley, who was a spectator for that game, said: “It’s all water under the bridge now.

“I absolutely loved my time at Leigh. It’s a big part of what I am today and I will always be thankful for what that club did for me. I’ve got a lot of respect for the people at that club.

“There are no issues now. They deserve their chance in Super League and, as long as they don’t win against us, I wish them all the best. I’m sure I’ll thank the fans at full-time regardless of whether we win or lose.”