Giant Ikahihifo would rather tackle Alex Walmsley than Ben Barba!

Huddersfield prop Sebastine Ikahihifo wants to celebrate his new contract by getting stuck in to big St Helens prop Alex Walmsley on Friday night.

Ikahihifo, 27, penned a new three-year deal with the Giants earlier this week and was named in the 2017 Super League Dream Team.

The 110kg forward will go up against 115kg Walmsley in a clash of two of Super League’s biggest heavyweights at the John Smith’s Stadium.

He told the club’s official website: “To me I look at their full-back and look for the physical challenge I personally don’t like tackling the small and agile players like Barba, I’d rather tackle a big guy where you know what’s coming.

“Alex Walmsley is a powerful guy and I’d rather face him than Ben Barba.

“I think any team that manages to beat Saints will be a force to be reckoned with. I think Saints are the benchmark. They have skill and power all over the field and I think they’re going to take us to the next level.”

Ikahihifo has only tasted defeat against St Helens once in four appearances since he arrived at the Giants in 2016.

He started in the front row in the 14-14 draw in Round eight last season and then in the 24-16 win in Round 16.

The former New Zealand Warriors man sat out the last meeting between the two sides, a 40-16 win for Saints in the Super 8s back in September.