Brown aims to make it third time lucky

Huddersfield stand-off Kevin Brown has identified Michael Dobson and Shaun Briscoe as the biggest threats to the Giants’ ambitions to make it third time lucky in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Last season’s beaten finalists will set out on the road to Wembley on Sunday week with a fourth round home tie against Engage Super League rivals Hull KR in front of the BBC2 cameras.

And a team which also tasted defeat in the 2006 final at Twickenham will not be short of motivation as they look to go one better than last year’s 25-16 reverse at the hands of Warrington Wolves

For Brown, Huddersfield’s hopes of edging a vital step nearer the 2010 final on Saturday August 28 rest on their success in suffocating the danger posed by two of his former team-mates at Wigan, Dobson and Briscoe.

“Michael is their biggest attacking threat and I have always rated him an outstanding scrum-half,” said Brown.

“Shaun is also a stand-out full-back and fully deserved his England call-up for last season’s Four Nations.”

St Helens-born Brown, 25, was a Wigan fan as a youngster and followed the Warriors on their almost annual jaunts to Wembley with Martin Offiah and Jason Robinson his heroes.

Brown realised a childhood dream signing for Wigan and played in the centre in their 2004 Challenge Cup final defeat by St Helens at Cardiff.

He moved to Huddersfield in 2006 but was Cup-tied for their 42-12 Twickenham defeat by St Helens.

“I went down with the team and was involved in all the build-up even though I couldn’t play,” added Brown.

“It was a great occasion and the first time Huddersfield had reached the final since losing to Wakefield in 1962.

“Last season was superb. We reached Wembley again and ended up finishing third in Super League.”

There was more heartbreak for Brown in the 25-16 defeat by Warrington when he lasted only half an hour before hobbling off with torn knee ligaments, an injury that sidelined him  for the rest of the season.

Huddersfield have not won the Challenge Cup since beating St Helens 15-10 at Wembley in 1953 but Brown is acutely aware that expectations are running among the club’s supporters.

The Giants thrashed Hull KR 30-0 at Craven Park in Engage Super League in February but Brown warned:”We will probably be favourites on Sunday but that result means nothing.

“The prospect of another Challenge Cup final appearance is a big carrot for every player but I don’t believe there’s more pressure on us because the Cup hasn’t come back to the town for almost 60 years.”