Dave Craven: Foresight of Brown has Kirmond dreaming of Old Trafford

Whether it be tactics, team selection or simply the manner in which he addresses the squad, there is normally someone who feels the boss has lost his marbles. Likewise, some have endured misery at the hands of a coach they might not fully trust or respect.

Danny Kirmond never held any of these feelings towards Nathan Brown, no surprise given he helped convert him from a powerful winger playing part-time at Featherstone Rovers to a mobile back-row in Super League with Huddersfield.

However, there was a definite doubt when, back in March, the Australian coach informed Kirmond he would be spending the rest of the season on loan at Wakefield as part of the deal bringing Danny Brough the other way.

It was not what he wanted to hear. Kirmond, a typical gritty Yorkshireman, was still battling back from a knee reconstruction after cruelly tearing ligaments the week before last August's Challenge Cup final. The switch to Belle Vue would certainly enable him to regain his fitness quicker than he would operating in the Giants' reserves and Brown insisted he remained crucial to their 2011 plans onwards.

With Kiwi Test star David Fa'alogo, ex-Great Britain international Lee Gilmour and Graeme Horne all having arrived over the winter though it would have been easy for him to ponder his coach's reassuring words and feel he was being nudged out completely.

Picking up just three wins in 17 appearances with a struggling Wildcats side was "hard" but, despite that sobering experience, the minutes amassed on the field did reap rich dividends for his recovery.

When chaotic Wakefield failed to make the play-offs, Brown recalled his man back to the Galpharm but he still did not expect to play in a buoyant side that, conversely, had embarked on a five-match winning run.

The list of players he had to jump ahead of was as long as that testing knee rehabilitation with Brad Drew, Andy Raleigh, Simon Finnigan and Scott Grix all already trying to oust incumbents. During those five months at Wakefield, hooker Shaun Lunt had also annoyingly converted himself into a pretty handy back-row option and, so, Kirmond prepared himself for plenty of training but little in the way of action as the business end approached.

However, Brown left out Horne for their opening play-off against Crusaders and handed Kirmond a surprise bench spot. Last week, promoted to the starting line-up at Warrington, he grabbed a try in the amazing triumph, ironically off Brough's searing break. Tonight, he suddenly finds himself just 80 minutes from Old Trafford.

To the naked eye, it has been a remarkable turnaround in fortune but Brown's foresight has proved key. Fully aware that someone recovering from a knee reconstruction requires 12-14 months to get their full mobility back – the ability to switch direction, stay balanced and co-ordinated – meant he knew his player would now be nearing his best just as Brough is having used the last five months to bed himself in at Huddersfield.

Brown speaks of every player in his squad having an important role to play, not necessarily all at the same time, but Kirmond's natural pace and ability to beat people on the edge is something which could prove key at St Helens.

If the Giants do prosper, the 24-year-old could become the first player ever to reach a Grand Final without playing a single league game for his club.

After missing out on Wembley and putting in such an effort since, few would begrudge him that honour.

FINALLY, I'm about to take part in Steve Prescott's Engage Mutual Challenge – five marathons in five days. Given my paucity of fitness, I'm hoping to just about manage one segment, a 7.4 mile run from Garforth to Headingley. Any support for a wonderful charity will be gratefully received. For more details visit www.steveprescottfoundation.co.uk/Events.aspx