Post by Liam O'Reilly on Aug 25, 2006 12:31:52 GMT
Huddersfield will be looking to upset the odds when they face St Helens in the Powergen Challenge Cup final on Saturday.
Saints are overwhelming favourites to claim the trophy and complete the first step of what could be a double-winning season.
However, the Super League leaders cannot take anything for granted against the Giants, who shocked Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals.
Jon Sharp's side will also take great heart from the 1998 final when Sheffield Eagles shocked the rugby league world by beating Wigan at Wembley.
Robbie Paul is under no illusions as to the size of the challenge that the Giants face, although he is well aware that anything is possible in a one-off match.
"Obviously we're going in as underdogs," he admitted. "That's just something have to deal with.
"Our focus at the moment is putting together our best 17 players and preparing as well as we can.
"We are under no illusions, we're facing an international-class team from one to 17. We expect St Helens to be at their best and we're preparing for them to be at their best.
"But we're quietly confident. Anyone can be beaten - the bounce of the ball, a referee's call. No one is unbeatable, we've seen it too many times."
Unlike many of his team-mates, Paul knows what it is like to play in the showpiece event.
The New Zealander has lifted the trophy twice before with Bradford and was also part of the Bulls team that lost to St Helens in the 1996 final.
Paul scored a hat-trick in a losing cause on that day, a feat that meant he was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match.
He hopes his previous cup experiences can help out his fellow Giants on Saturday as they look to lift the trophy for the first time in 53 years.
"The reality is that when you get out on the pitch, it's just another game," he said. "It's just the build-up to the game that's different.
"The best thing I can say to them is 'relax boys and enjoy the occasion but don't think about it too much.
"'Don't mentally bring yourself up because there's a time and place for everything and the match will take care of itself when it comes'."
Huddersfield's preparations have not been helped by injuries to key players, with skipper Chris Thorman a major doubt due to a hamstring injury.
There are also fitness concerns over Stuart Donlan and Martin Aspwinall, but influential hooker Brad Drew should be back from a calf strain.
In contrast Saints have no injury problems, leaving coach Daniel Anderson with a selection headache for the trip to Twickenham.
Youngsters James Roby and James Graham are expected to get the nod in front of Nick Fozzard and Vinnie Anderson.
Anderson opted to rest many of his stars from last week's trip to Les Catalans, meaning the squad should be fresh for the weekend.
But the former New Zealand coach is taking nothing for granted against a Huddersfield side that they have already lost to once this season in the Super League.
"For most people it was a shock that they beat Leeds but I've watched the game and they were really deserving of the win," he said. "They played with a high intensity the entire game.
"It just shows you can't under-estimate any opposition this year.
"We haven't this year and we certainly haven't been perched on our ivory tower during the course of this week."
Saints are overwhelming favourites to claim the trophy and complete the first step of what could be a double-winning season.
However, the Super League leaders cannot take anything for granted against the Giants, who shocked Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals.
Jon Sharp's side will also take great heart from the 1998 final when Sheffield Eagles shocked the rugby league world by beating Wigan at Wembley.
Robbie Paul is under no illusions as to the size of the challenge that the Giants face, although he is well aware that anything is possible in a one-off match.
"Obviously we're going in as underdogs," he admitted. "That's just something have to deal with.
"Our focus at the moment is putting together our best 17 players and preparing as well as we can.
"We are under no illusions, we're facing an international-class team from one to 17. We expect St Helens to be at their best and we're preparing for them to be at their best.
"But we're quietly confident. Anyone can be beaten - the bounce of the ball, a referee's call. No one is unbeatable, we've seen it too many times."
Unlike many of his team-mates, Paul knows what it is like to play in the showpiece event.
The New Zealander has lifted the trophy twice before with Bradford and was also part of the Bulls team that lost to St Helens in the 1996 final.
Paul scored a hat-trick in a losing cause on that day, a feat that meant he was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match.
He hopes his previous cup experiences can help out his fellow Giants on Saturday as they look to lift the trophy for the first time in 53 years.
"The reality is that when you get out on the pitch, it's just another game," he said. "It's just the build-up to the game that's different.
"The best thing I can say to them is 'relax boys and enjoy the occasion but don't think about it too much.
"'Don't mentally bring yourself up because there's a time and place for everything and the match will take care of itself when it comes'."
Huddersfield's preparations have not been helped by injuries to key players, with skipper Chris Thorman a major doubt due to a hamstring injury.
There are also fitness concerns over Stuart Donlan and Martin Aspwinall, but influential hooker Brad Drew should be back from a calf strain.
In contrast Saints have no injury problems, leaving coach Daniel Anderson with a selection headache for the trip to Twickenham.
Youngsters James Roby and James Graham are expected to get the nod in front of Nick Fozzard and Vinnie Anderson.
Anderson opted to rest many of his stars from last week's trip to Les Catalans, meaning the squad should be fresh for the weekend.
But the former New Zealand coach is taking nothing for granted against a Huddersfield side that they have already lost to once this season in the Super League.
"For most people it was a shock that they beat Leeds but I've watched the game and they were really deserving of the win," he said. "They played with a high intensity the entire game.
"It just shows you can't under-estimate any opposition this year.
"We haven't this year and we certainly haven't been perched on our ivory tower during the course of this week."