Giants face up to life without Hodgson

They head to Wakefield this evening knowing the reigning Man of Steel will be out of their side for the next month due to ankle ligament damage.

Losing the Australian full-back is a significant blow given his guile, creativity and leadership and he has already been missed when absent with a back strain in last month's defeat at Hull FC.

Huddersfield now face a stiff test against a Wakefield side who boasted a 100 per cent record until going down at St Helens last week but Nathan Brown's men will take plenty of comfort recalling their previous visit to the Hearwell Stadium. Despite being without Hodgson last May, they racked up a 54-6 victory over the Wildcats and assistant Giants coach Paul Anderson realises they must quickly learn how to deal without their veteran general again.

"We have to learn to play without Brett," he said. "We have prepared as we normally do, are focused on performing the way we want and earning a result on the back of that. The last time (against Hull) we weren't far off.

"If we had of executed a couple of plays a little better in attack and defence we may well have come away with the win.

"Defensively we're going along nicely but we need to execute a little bit better with the ball."

That is where Hodgson's craft is most noticed but the visitors, just pipped by Warrington last week, are boosted for tonight's West Yorkshire derby by the return of Scott Grix – who left Wakefield over the winter – and Jamahl Lolesi while winger Leroy Cudjoe switches to full-back.

Anderson rates Wakefield highly and is bemused why so many people dismiss John Kear's side.

"They are the form team," admitted the former Bradford Bulls and Great Britain prop.

"Everyone seems to write off John Kear's teams every year and he keeps coming up with good wins and good starts to the season. I'm sure he will want to keep that going. They took Saints all the way and will relish being at home where they haven't been beaten yet.

"They have already defeated Leeds and Catalans there. They'd relish the chance to beat us."

Hull KR welcome St Helens to Craven Park tomorrow with the high-profile Paul Cooke again overlooked.

Coach Justin Morgan, who dropped the star stand-off for last week's win over Castleford, insists the out-of-favour player does still remain in his plans.

"Paul has been training hard and still has a future at the club," he said, amid rumours Cooke's former Hull FC coach Kear wanted to take him on loan to Wakefield.

"I've had no phone calls from anyone about him from any other clubs."

Ben Galea is set for his first appearance of the season after injury with ex-Bradford second-row Matt Cook dropped.