WIDNES Vikings have the luxury of their first weekend off since the start of the season – and that will help them recover from the highs and lows of recent weeks.

After the disappointment of the Challenge Cup semi-final exit, Vikings’ focus now is to conclude the season on a high with a top eight finish.

They are currently clinging to eighth, two points ahead of nearest rivals Hull KR with three games to play.

Although Vikings are capable of getting the results needed from the home game against Wigan and the aways at Bradford and Salford, they will have to be on their mettle or the Robins could pick their pockets.

Although there were fears that Vikings may have been suffering a post semi-final hangover, that was dispelled with Sunday’s display.

Denis Betts believed a lack of composure at Huddersfield cost them their chance at getting the two points.

Betts said: “I thought after the highs of the semi-final and the disappointments of the things on the back of it, we showed lots of purpose.

“The disappointing thing for me is not the scoreline at the end of the game, it’s the lack of composure and the transition when they scored just before half time. It’s the second time that’s happened to us this year – the other time was at London.

“Those are the things that we need to get better at, that lack of focus and transition, coming out in certain areas of the field.”

The pleasing aspect for Betts was the manner in which his combative forwards dealt with the much heavier Giants pack for the most of the game.

“We handled their big men pretty well. I thought we defended our line with resilience. We showed a few good things, we just lacked a little bit of cutting edge at certain stages of the game.”