Giants drop Jensen for Dragons trip

Rod Jensen has been reassured that he still has a bright future at Huddersfield, despite being left out of the side again for today's trip to the Catalan Dragons. The Australian wing or full-back was dropped after a nightmare defensive display against Warrington at Cardiff last week and the Giants ended a six-match run without a win by thrashing Hull KR.

Three young players who all performed well in that game – Michael Lawrence, Leroy Cudjoe and Danny Kirmond – all keep their places and Jamahl Lolesi returns after a two-match suspension.

That means there is no room for Jensen, although his coach, Jon Sharp, is confident that he will be back. "Rod has been a fantastic signing for us and his time will come again," he said.

The match is the first since the Dragons announced that they will be coached next season by the former Australian stand-off, Kevin Walters, and their captain, Jerome Guisset, this week became the first player to commit himself to staying with the club.

The former Canberra, Warrington and Wigan forward has signed on for another two years, which will probably see him end his career with his hometown club.

Richard Agar is in charge of Hull for the first time tomorrow, when St Helens can be expected to give the new regime a searching examination.

Agar, appointed as caretaker following the sacking of Peter Sharp, will be without the services of Adam Dykes, who has not recovered from a knee injury.

Better news is that Shaun Berrigan and Danny Tickle should be fit and that Garreth Carvell and Graeme Horne also have a chance.

Across the city at Craven Park, Michael Dobson will make his debut for Hull KR against Harlequins. Rovers have been without a specialist scrum-half since James Webster's season-ending shoulder injury and the former Catalan and Wigan scrum-half is seen as the answer.

Trent Barrett will take over as Wigan's captain for the trip to Wakefield, following this week's news that Sean O'Loughlin will be out for three months with a fractured shoulder blade.

The Wildcats have had similarly bad news about their livewire hooker, Tevita Leo-Latu, although that problem is eased by having Brad Drew fit again and easing himself back into the action.

Today also sees the two remaining quarter-finals in the Northern Rail Cup, with Oldham going to Batley and Celtic Crusaders hosting last year's winners, Widnes.