Huddersfield think big in building final ticket sales

Huddersfield, the surprise Challenge Cup finalists, are confident of selling their full allocation of tickets, despite their modest home attendances.

The Giants beat Leeds 30-12 on Sunday to qualify for the final against St Helens on 26 August and their 10,000 seats for the big occasion at Twickenham go on sale today.

"There has already been a big reaction," said the club's general manager, Richard Thewlis. "One man who usually comes on his own has been in touch to say that he wants 16 tickets.

"I'm very confident we'll sell them all. This is the opportunity everyone in the town has always said they wanted. They said they would come and watch us when we did something, and now we've done something."

Despite lying a healthy seventh in Super League, the Giants average only 5,900 for their home games. They are, however, preparing for massive demand.

"It's not something we have much experience of," Thewlis admitted. "We will be tapping into the experience of our stadium partners, Huddersfield Town, who have been to Cardiff twice and to Wembley for finals."

Huddersfield plan to hold talks before the final with several of their players who are out of contract at the end of the season. Near the top of the list is the former Australian Test centre, Michael De Vere, who was assumed to be heading back home at the end of his two-year stint. Others they are due to open discussions with are Stuart Donlan and the full-back Paul Reilly.