HUDDERSFIELD insist they will not be distracted by the presence of Brett Ferres in the opposition when they take on defending champions Leeds in an unlikely Super League basement battle tonight.

All eyes at Headingley will be on Ferres, the England forward who will come face to face with his old team-mates for the first time since he was sold to the Rhinos on the eve of the season following a controversial exit.

Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson has been keen to quash talk of a payback and his players have clearly been under instructions not to inflame a potential flashpoint.

"There are no plans there," said second-rower Larne Patrick.

"I wouldn't like to comment on that, it is what it is. We're going to ignore that and just do what we do.

"He's a world-class player and he's been playing well. He's a threat but we've got some threats in our team so it will be a good battle."

Anderson said: "I'm not interested in Brett Ferres or the reception he'll get – I couldn't care less about it. We've all moved on. There are two teams desperate for a win."

Ferres, who played the best rugby of his career in his three years with Huddersfield, says he is relishing the prospect of facing his old club.

"I'm looking forward to it, I'm not going to lie," he said. "I left there in different circumstances and I'm looking forward to getting back out there and righting some wrongs.

"I'll go out and enjoy myself, try to express myself, and there's no better way of doing that than in a local derby in front of the TV cameras."

Patrick is acutely aware of the significance of this evening's game which pits together the only teams yet to take a point from the first three rounds.

Both clubs had their eyes on top spot the last time they met, in the last game of the Super 8s last September, when Ryan Hall's last-gasp try gave Leeds a 20-16 victory that clinched the league leaders' shield, but Patrick insists the Giants are not panicking.

"It's not how you start, it's how you finish," he said.

"We're only a month in. We know we are one of the better teams so it's a matter of finally turning up and hopefully this week can be the start of it.

"Obviously Leeds have started terribly as well so it's all to play for and hopefully we won't be bottom after this weekend."