Brown is happy for Giants to play the underdog role

The Australian coach helped transform their fortunes last year, inspiring a highest Super League finish of third and guiding them to a first Wembley final in nearly 50 years.

Brown, in his debut campaign in charge, earned the Super League coach of the year title for his efforts while outstanding captain Brett Hodgson won Man of Steel following the club's surprise exploits.

However, Huddersfield open their new campaign at home against Bradford Bulls tomorrow with the former St George chief maintaining previous plaudits are irrelevant if strides are not continued.

"Last season was a big improvement for the club," said Brown. "Now we're keen to build on that and have an even better year.

"If we don't, last season will just have been a waste. We've got to build for the future here and are fully aware of that."

Despite advances being made – Huddersfield had stumbled in at 10th during 2008 when coach Jon Sharp was sacked mid-season – many observers believe it will be hard to maintain their progress.

It is a fact not lost on Brown but he is happy adopting the role of underdog as other more illustrious rivals take the attention.

Tomorrow's opponents Bradford are seen as one of those sides who will challenge again in 2010 and force Huddersfield out of the top four but the laid-back Australian is not unduly concerned.

"Last year, most people predicted to have us finishing down near the bottom," he said.

"We finished third. We've recruited since and made progress but most people are talking about Bradford, Hull and Warrington coming back in.

"They are three of the bigger teams and people think they will fare well along with the obvious – Leeds and St Helens – and Wigan, who are always talked about.

"We sort of fall somewhere below all of those six in those eyes but we're confident in ourselves."

Many could see the pre-season ranking as a slight on Huddersfield's achievements but Brown knows it matters little. "People are entitled to their opinion," he said. "Bradford finished on a high and only missed the play-offs by a point.

"Warrington and Hull are sides who have always had the ability to recruit big-name Australians and Englishmen and they have done that.

"At Huddersfield we need to have some consistency, to challenge people's opinions. That takes time. It's one thing to have one good year, another to have two, three or four in a row.

"We have got to earn that respect over time. Hopefully, as the team develops and we put more work in, that consistency will come."

Someone who believes Huddersfield are primed to challenge for silverware is new signing Lee Gilmour.

The former Great Britain international joined after six trophy-laden years at St Helens but believes he can add to the haul under Brown.

Gilmour, 31, was in the Saints team knocked out of the Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage last season by an awesome Giants display, and predicts success for his new team-mates.

"I spent six great years at St Helens, three years at Bradford, and over those nine years played with some great players," said the Dewsbury-born second row.

"But I really think Huddersfield are a team going places. They finished third in Super League last season, but they lost four games to teams who finished outside the top eight. Just imagine what would have happened if they had won those."

Gilmour is one of four new arrivals included in Brown's 19-man squad for tomorrow.

Others are New Zealand Test star David Fa'aogo from South Sydney, former Hull FC man Graeme Horne and Scott Grix, brought in from Wakefield, but it is a returning member of last season's side who could be crucial.

When Kevin Brown suffered a knee injury in the Challenge Cup final against Warrington last August, it not only scuppered the Giants' chances of victory at Wembley but severely hindered hopes of progression towards Old Trafford.

Ligament damage meant he did not play again and the Giants never functioned the same without their stand-off, crashing out of the play-offs after disappointing losses versus St Helens and Catalans.

"Kev's an important player for us in a key position," said Brown. "But he is also a developing player. He's made some improvements in where he was this time last year, not only in his game but in terms of strength and conditioning.

"Hopefully Kev is going to improve on last year. You could see how important to us he was when he was out. We did miss him."