The only team we have struggled against this season is Huddersfield. Is that simply irrelevant come playoff rugby? A lot of people are ignoring their dominance of the league and more looking to the fact that they are playoff novices. Personally I think they are a huge threat, but one the lads will relish playing against, fully aware that we have been bigger underdogs in the past. Now Leeds have shown in the past that any team can pull themselves together and become a different team in the playoffs, that is why I think Wigan can rejuvenate themselves and Saints will be dangerous also. I cannot wait for tomorrow night to get the playoffs underway!

I'm looking forward to it, should be a really interesting playoff series.

We can beat any team if we play to our full potential, but whether we will or not remains to be seen.

I hope we do get to play the Giants at some point - like you say, the lads will relish a chance to put things right.

More to the point, Crabtree called Bailey 'an Idiot' during the radio commentary t'other night which I know hasn't been missed by TMFMISL, so that would add some spice to the game.

Can Leeds could win the GF without playing Hudds?

That would be even sweeter....the fact that Hudds finish top, beat Leeds in every game played (inc CC), yet Leeds become Champions

Very possible in many scenarios.

Not least if we beat Wire and Hudds lose to Wigan we get the club call so would probably send Hudds to Wire to lose (providing those two come through against the 5th-8th rabble)

I'm not sure it would be sweeter from our perspective, but the outcry from other fans would be worth it. We undoubtedly wouldn't be recognized as Champions by the 52 giants supporters too.

The only thing to fear from Huddersfield is their negative effect on the gate receipts.

I'd have to say Wire, given the draw we've got. Not that I'm hugely concerned about their challenge.

Hudds are the biggest threat. We've put Wigan away comfortably twice, and narrowly lost at the Magic Weekend with half a team out, and a try that should've been given chalked off. Wire we put away comfortably at HQ, and lost by 1 point at the HJ with half a team out.

Huddersfield we've had 3 fairly comfortable losses to. They're the toughest challenge. Think it would be good for the game for Hudds to make the GF, hopefully losing to us.

It wouldn't. Crowd would be poor.

You're more than likely going to play us twice so logically you'd think Wire?

Dont know and dont care at the moment its all about the game on saturday, looking forward to it.

If Hudds lose to Wigan I don't think we'll meet again...

.... surely you wouldn't be that foolish if you got the club call

IF Hudds lose to Wigan and Wire get the club call then they will certainly pick Hudds! Warrington have the blueprints to beat Hudds.

In which case we'd meet again in the Final. Fair point then.

Which game is it to play the loser of Leeds vs Wire?

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------- A lot of people are ignoring their dominance of the league ------

a one point win diff between hudds and warrington ( who were hardly going all out this year to win the hubcap anyway ) is hardly a team that has been dominant in the league ,cant wait for sats game ,i expect wire to get back too o-t this year and ,hopefully,learn from last year ,and go one better.roll on sat,will be a great game!

Catalan vs hull fc on Friday

Just a quick point also on the "Giants SL dominance" how many games have they had Lunt ,Brough ,Robinson and their 1st choice BR missing for?
Now i've no doubt whatsoever they are a threat in the play-offs and they know full well they have beaten us with ease 3 time this year but a full strength confident Leeds side is a different proposition in the play offs.
As Champions and our Play off pedigree we are still "THE TEAM" to beat and although whoever we play will give us a tough game i fear none of them.

Could read the question 2 ways. If it's the biggest threat to Leeds' chances then it's Wire, by virtue of the high likelihood that we could play them twice.

If the question is who else is most likely to win, I could make a case for any of the other top 4, but I'd go for Hudds. They have the form, no real injury worries. The only thing against them is pedigree. They need to put that aside. We had some issues in the play-offs pre 2004 (not such bad ones). They can be overcome. They've already avoided the traditional late-summer collapse.

In knock out rugby all competition are a real threat. So I would say that the biggest threat is Leeds themselves. If we turn up on the day as we did against Wigan then I am confident we will beat any of the other teams, however if we fall from that level of high energy, intensity, form and good disciplined then we could lose to any of the others.

Whats with the sky huddersfield love in. They have won absolutely nothing so far. Ken Davy boasting that they are building a dynasty and intend dominating the sport.

He can start to boast if and when his side have actually won one title never mind 6 in 9 years and he has the crowds to back up his hyperbole. At the moment the people of Huddersfield simply dont give a monkeys despite give away prices

Crabtree is already talking about how surreal and exciting it is to the Giants squad to be hosting Wigan as LLS, how will they cope with the occasions as they possibly get bigger and bigger throughout the playoffs???

Also something for Giants fans to think about.....
2012 - Leeds beat LLS winners in playoffs
2011 - Leeds beat LLS winners in playoffs
2010 - Leeds beat LLS winners in playoffs
2009 - Leeds as LLS winners, beat 2nd in playoffs
2008 - Leeds beat LLS winners in playoffs
2007 - Leeds beat LLS winners in playoffs
2006 - knocked out first week
2005 - Leeds beat LLS winners in playoffs
2004 - Leeds as LLS winners, beat 2nd in playoffs

In 8 of the last 9 years Leeds have picked up a win against the highest/next highest ranked team in the playoffs. Some have taken 2 attempts and Wigan gained revenge in 2010......but we've picked up at least one win, and due to finishing 3rd we can only play Huddersfield the once

Every time I hear Crabtree speak he's in awe of someone. He has a losers mentality. I know the players are very, very keen to play Huddersfield. It doesn't make them any less of a threat but our play-off experience and having a score to settle I think would go in our favour. As already mentioned, we are most likely going to have to play Warrington twice if we're going to win it, so you'd have to say them.

The key here though, is that the Leeds players are totally at ease with the situation, and they will fear nobody. They'll look into the eyes of the opposition in the tunnel and see nerves, look at the Leeds players and you'll see a team that knows exactly what they need to do. It's certainly no foregone conclusion that we'll even make the GF, but most of the fear will be with the opposition now.

I can't wait for the explosion from the other teams fans when/if we win the Final. I'm sure some of them are already coming up with ways we cheated/played the system/had an easier run/chose to finish 3rd etc.

I fear Wire moreso than the others, but I'm quietly confident that we will reign strong once more. If we don't win I'd be happy for the Giants to.

It's tricky picking Who is the biggest threat to our Super League crown IMO as five sides have the ability to win the GF this season, the exceptions being Catalan, Hull FC and Hull KR

I think that if all of the remaining eight sides played to their full potential and in every game they played then i think that Warrington are the most dangerous side

For us to win it this year we will probably have to play them twice if results go to form

Huddersfield have the LLS in their back pockets, but until they are winning by 10 points in the GF and with only two seconds left on the clock then most neutral fans don't see them pulling the big one off, although we have been in that boat before and we managed to shove the two fingers up to those doom scaremongers in 2004 with relish

For some reason i can see the Saints spoiling a few parties in the play offs IF they hit their straps, i definitely wouldn't want to play them the week after a loss in the first weeks rounds

We definitely have both the ability and the know how within our group to win it again without a doubt

I'd agree with that. They're dark horses, but they're hitting some great form.