LEEMING SAYS SPIRIT IN GIANTS CAMP COULD SERVE UP A SHOT AT THE GRAND FINAL

UNDERBANK RANGERS could have one hand on the National Conference League First Division trophy tomorrow night.

Coach Richard Knight’s men have already secured promotion to the Premier Division for 2018.

And if they can beat second-placed Hunslet Parkside at The Cross tomorrow, then they look certain to go up as champions.

It’s certainly not going to be easy for Rangers, with their visitors the only side to beat them this season.

But Knight knows that if his players can hit their best form, Underbank will be victorious and on the brink of taking the title.

“Whoever wins this game will take the title, it’s as simple as that,” said Knight.

“We’ve got three games to play after this one (at home to Featherstone Lions and Lock Lane and at Hunslet Warriors), but I just can’t see us slipping up if we win this weekend.

“We obviously know only our very best will be good enough against Hunslet Parkside.

“They beat us by eight points earlier in the year and haven’t lost since a defeat to Normanton back in round two.

“But we know our form’s good enough to turn them over, even though we’re going to be without three key men in Kris Harrop (he’s getting married), Luke Pogson (shoulder injury) and Danny Hirst (suspended).

“To make up for their loss we’ve got Owen Restall and Sam Rochford returning, as well as having a lot of depth and quality in our squad, so we know we’re still good enough to go out there and get the job done.

“We’ve not lost a game at home all season, and there’s no reason why that record should end this weekend.

“And hopefully, there will be a big crowd at The Cross to see us take a massive step towards the title.” HUDDERSFIELD Giants pack star Kruise Leeming and his teammates are ready to take on the challenge of remaining winners until the end of the season.

The Giants go into tonight’s home clash with League Leaders Shield winners Castleford Tigers knowing four wins from their remaining four Super 8s games are probably a must if they are to finish in the top four.

However, a Grand Final place at Old Trafford next month remains a viable target as the Giants lie just three points behind fourth in the table Wakefield Trinity ahead of tonight’s showdown with the tabletopping Tigers.

“We have got a big challenge ahead of us and Castleford have been the form team in Super League all season,” said Leeming.

“They won the League Leaders Shield for a reason and I think their attacking shape has proved really testing for teams.

“We have got to face that and we will give it a really good go and see what happens.

“But we are in a position where we probably need to win all our remaining four games to be in the top four at the end of the season.”

The 21-year-old, who has made the hooker’s position his own this season, feels head coach Rick Stone’s Giants squad are perfectly geared up for the challenge ahead of them – particularly after their impressive 46-18 win at Hull FC in the last round of matches, ahead of the break for the Challenge Cup final.

“It has been nice to have a break, but in other ways it would have been good to have a bit of momentum from that game (at Hull) as well,” said Leeming.

“But we are happy with the way we have been going in training and the way we have gone about our work – everyone is enjoying it.

“As a team, what Rick has brought to the club has been really good and the culture that he has brought in is really starting to work.

“I think the way he coaches and what he demands of the playing squad has been really positive and I have really enjoyed it.

“As a squad it has been about getting to know each other and work as a group.

“While there were still a lot of familiar faces around the club at the start of preparations for the season, as soon as you start swapping a few players it can change the dynamic of the team.

“Players coming in from different clubs will have been used to different ways of setting up defences and so on, and you really have to develop a culture as a club.

“The coach also has his own ideas and Rick has changed things – we have all bought into the same defensive principle and it is working for us.

“When you see something you have trained on come to fruition on the pitch it really gives you belief and the more you carry on doing it the confidence grows – and that gets