Huddersfield Giants v St Helens: Jamie Ellis back and raring to go to fire Giants up the table

The scrum-half, so influential in 2015, saw this season put on hold when injuring his shoulder against Widnes Vikings in only the third game of the year.

He made a successful return to action in Perpignan a week ago, however, and will now look to step up his recovery further against former club St Helens at St James’s Park.

Having a player of the 26-year-old’s calibre around again – Ellis offers both a running and kicking threat from midfield – will only enhance Huddersfield’s hopes of gaining some momentum after their surprisingly poor start to 2016.

“It was good to be back out there against Catalans,” he admitted, despite a narrow 
16-14 loss against the joint-league leaders.

“It has been a tough ten weeks doing rehab and seeing the boys losing with results not going our way, so it is good to be back.

“Hopefully I can stay in the team now.

“Saints have been similar to us but they have picking up the wins.

“I am sure they will come out firing, they have got some good players and we have got to be on our game to beat them because they are a strong side,” he continued.

Huddersfield could give a debut to Sebastine Ikahihifo, their recent signing who will be eager to impress having failed to even make an appearance for St George Illawarra following his move from New Zealand Warriors last winter,

He is named in the 19-man squad as is Scott Grix, the Giants full-back who has been missing since suffering his own shoulder injury in the loss at St Helens in February.

Ellis started his career in Saints’ Academy ranks before making his name at Leigh Centurions and arriving at Huddersfield via Hull FC and Castleford Tigers.

Jordan Turner, Shannon McDonnell and Calvin Wellington have all been called up into the St Helens 19-man squad, injured Dom Peyroux and Mark Percival dropping out.