Brown recalls trio in bid to keep Giants' season alive

The Huddersfield coach, Nathan Brown, will make at least three changes tonight as the Giants try to keep their season alive. They play Leeds in a sudden-death play-off at the Galpharm Stadium, a week after being humbled 47-0 at Warrington.

For this last chance, Brown recalls Leroy Cudjoe, Joe Wardle and Dale Ferguson, all of whom missed the Wolves match with injuries.

All three would have been drafted in, if fit, regardless of that result, he said. "They are in our best 17," he said. "In the best games we have played, they have been playing."

Cudjoe and Wardle are likely to form a new centre pairing, with Ferguson slotting into the back row of the pack. Significant though those changes could be, what Huddersfield really need is for Kevin Brown and Danny Brough to rediscover their early season form. They were comprehensively outplayed by Warrington's half-backs last weekend; if that happens again, the outcome will be the same.

Leeds have been boosted by Ryan Bailey winning his appeal against a one-match suspension. Kyle Amor, who has spent most of the season on loan to Wakefield, is also included, but Kallum Watkins is ruled out. The losers will be eliminated, while the winners will advance to the next round, along with the winners of the game between Wigan and the Catalan Dragons, where Warrington and St Helens are waiting.

The England prop, Andy Lynch, has completed his move to Hull, who have paid Bradford a six-figure sum for the remaining year of his contract. The Bulls will also be without Gareth Raynor next season, after sacking the former Test winger, for "a serious breach of club discipline."

Hull have released Martin Gleeson, the Great Britain centre who has not played since May, because of stress-related illness. Hull have also discarded Mike Burnett and Luke Briscoe, who is joining Leeds.

Sheffield Eagles became the first club from outside the top two to reach the Co-operative Championship Grand Final thanks to a surprise 20-10 win at Leigh last night. They will take on Featherstone in the title decider at Warrington on Sunday week.