Batley exam prepares Giants for French test

The West Yorkshire club are handily placed in second position, three points in front of opponents Catalan Dragons.

However, they have endured some wretched fortune in France in recent years, losing a tight affair 27-20 last season and, agonisingly, going down to a Scott Dureau drop goal in 2011.

“It’s a big test for us as Catalan are going really well but so are we,” said Huddersfield back-row Michael Lawrence.

“We’re second in Super League and want to stay up there and keep the pressure on Wigan.

“We’ve lost there (in Perpignan) the last couple of years by a point and a try so hopefully this time we can get that changed around.

“We’ve not won there since 2010 but hopefully we’ll get the right result when we’re over this weekend. They are always a big, tough team and we have to front up ready for a physical battle to do that.”

Giants will be well prepared, though, after Sunday’s bruising Challenge Cup tie at Championship part-timers Batley Bulldogs.

England Knights international Lawrence conceded it was more gruelling than many of their Super League games this season, pressured Huddersfield having to battle back from behind to eventually edge home 13-4.

“It’s very physical in that league, if not more physical than Super League as a lot of the guys are bigger,” he explained.

“They’re not as agile or as quick but there’s some very large guys and they had a very big team.

“It was real physical and very tough especially that first half when Batley just kept getting repeat sets.

“But I played there a couple of years back and they gave us a real game then to.

“They were beating us until the last 20 minutes in that match so we knew what it was going to be like.

“It was tough again on Sunday but we stuck at it and I thought we just had a little bit more skill and were that bit more clinical to manage to get the result.

“Going from playing on that slope at Batley to the heat of Perpignan is certainly a bit different but we know it’s going to be physical again.”

Huddersfield-born Lawrence, 23, has made a fine comeback after being sidelined for the opening nine fixtures due to an ankle injury suffered in pre-season.

He scored on his return in the rout of Widnes Vikings on Easter Monday and has featured in the club’s three successive victories since, going over for another try against Hull KR recently.