AFTER a comfortable opening day win over London, followed by a week off, Vikings face a big test of their mettle on Friday night when Huddersfield come to town.

And although last year’s League Leaders Shield winners scored an impressive opening day win at champions Wigan, they dropped a point at home to a physical Hull KR side on Sunday which could make the Giants a more dangerous beast.

On-song Widnes stand off Kevin Brown knows his former club will pose a formidable challenge, but it is one the Vikings are ready for.

Brown said: “It is going to be a big test and we have a lot of respect for them. I know how good Huddersfield are both individually and as a team.

“They will be upset at dropping a point against Hull KR, so we are going to have to be on our game and this should be a good marker of where we are.”

Giants have improved year-on-year and behind a formidable pack, they have two shrewd halves and some real strike out wide.

But Brown singled out Scotland’s star of the World Cup – Danny Brough – as the man who makes the team tick.

“Danny Brough is a massive threat. He is probably one of the best players in the world in his position.

“I watched him play against Wigan on the opening day and he terrorised them.

“It is a good challenge for us to do all the things the coaches tell us to do. If we do that we should be ok,” Brown said.

The game kicks off at 8pm and is not on television, so the club will be anticipating a good crowd.

Brown believes that if the fans repeat the volume they displayed against London, then they can be the real 18th man.

Vikings are likely to stay with the same squad that saw off London on the opening day, with the addition of new recruit Paul Clough.

But coach Denis Betts said the health, form and depth of the squad means that there is no real need to rush back Jon Clarke, Cameron Phelps, Patrick Ah Van and Dave Allen before they are ready.

Betts said: “Jon Clarke is not far off, but when we get him back we want him to go for the rest of the year.

“We don’t want to rush him back a week too soon but that’s not something we need to do because Lloyd White and Danny Craven are going well.

“We are making sure that all those players are fit enough when they return, but we have the ability to do that because we have faith in our squad.”