WIDNES Vikings will have to up their game massively on Sunday (3pm) if they are to break their eight-game losing Super League run against a Huddersfield Giants side that have suddenly hit form.

It doesn’t get any easier with the Giants match being followed swiftly by clashes at an equally buoyant Hull and Castleford and then at home to Wigan.

So far they have retained their position in the top eight, despite that losing run, but now the teams below them are challenging and Vikings have to put some wins together if they are to avoid slumping into the Middle 8s again.

Coach Denis Betts said: “We are eighth in the table with eight games to go – our destiny is in our hands.

“We are at a point where we need to get off this track and back on to the other one.

“The only way we can do that is by winning games.

“It doesn’t matter against who, everyone is going to be tough this year, but the teams were are coming up against are now are all pretty buoyant.”

Vikings will be without Aaron Heremaia, who was due a scan but is very doubtful with a hamstring, and Eamon O’Carroll troubled with the arm injury he picked up.

But new Australian signing Jack Buchanan is in the country and training with the team.

Sunday’s game sees fit-again Kevin Brown come up against his former club – and after getting last week’s first match back under his belt, Betts expects both his captain and Chris Bridge to be better for the Magic run out.

Betts said: “Kevin worked himself to a standstill at Newcastle because he wants to win and some of his decisions at the end were because of fatigue.

“He has the desire to win but just ran out of steam.

“Chris got better as the game warmed up and once he got his foot in he turned up in the second half and got his hands on the ball more.

“He will be better for the game.”

Huddersfield started the year with a terrible crop of injuries and slumped to the bottom four, but on Sunday they run riot against Saints and are suddenly looking like the side that made the top end of the table last term.

“Huddersfield have got Danny Brough back and playing well, and Leroy Cudjoe seems to have found his form again.

“They have a group of players that are back fit and last weekend was a good stage for them to show their wares.

“We know what is coming, but our attitude and desire to turn our season around is something we have got to push forward,” Betts said.