Brown challenges Giants to maintain form heading for play-offs

Nathan Brown's side, who are in France to face Catalans Dragons, know a fifth successive victory will confirm that place and set up a home play-off tie against Castleford or Crusaders.

But the Australian is eager to see their recent improvements, which included a memorable win at minor premiers Wigan, continue ahead of their sudden-death football.

"We are looking to keep going and build on what we have been doing for the last six to eight weeks," said Brown, who welcomes back prop Darrell Griffin from suspension and has second-row Danny Kirmond available after his loan at Wakefield.

"We've also got some players who will be getting their third run-out after a pretty lengthy lay-off due to injury, so they will get a bit more match practice and we want to keep building some momentum and rhythm in our performances."

Having no game last weekend due to the Challenge Cup final has also aided some of the Giants' regular performers.

"Some of the players have played week-in, week-out rugby for most of the year and last week's break may have done their bodies some good to have another week off," Brown conceded.

"But there are also some that have missed a bit of football that probably wouldn't have minded if they were carrying on playing.

"The reality is that most sides are in the same boat, with the exception of Leeds and Warrington.

"I'm sure it will have freshened everyone up a little bit."

Hull FC entertain Leeds Rhinos this afternoon in the deciding game for fourth spot – although the Airlie Birds know defeat, coupled with a Huddersfield victory, would see them drop down to sixth, setting up a first Hull play-off derby next Friday.

That is because Hull KR, who face Crusaders in Wrexham tonight with Ben Galea and Kris Welham returning from injury, cannot move from seventh.

Rovers, meanwhile, have promoted general manager Mike Smith to the role of chief executive. Smith, 48, a lifelong Robins fan who joined the club in 2008, takes over from Neil Hudgell, who will remain as chairman.

Former Huddersfield and Hull KR star Stanley Gene has won his case for unfair dismissal by Championship club Halifax.

Halifax terminated the contract of the Papua New Guinean international, 36, in July after he had struggled to overcome a knee injury. However, a RFL operational rules tribunal ruled they had not followed the correct procedure and ordered them to pay up the remaining five months of the first year of his two-year contract.