Jamahl Lolesi is determined to get his hands on silverware at long last this weekend - and settle an old score in the process.

The Huddersfield centre has enjoyed little luck in big games throughout his career and wants to put that right as the Giants take on Warrington in Saturday's Carnegie Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

The 28-year-old former New Zealand international missed out when his old club Canterbury Bulldogs won the Australian Grand Final in 2004 because of a broken leg.

He was back to full fitness for the following year's World Club Challenge but suffered defeat at the hands of Leeds and was then in the Wests Tigers team beaten by Bradford in the same match in 2006.

Lolesi now wants to put all that agony behind him by helping Huddersfield lift the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1953, although to do that he must overcome an old foe.

Lolesi's leg was broken five years ago in a tackle on North Queensland's Paul Rauhihi, a powerful Kiwi forward who now plies his trade for the Wolves.

"I went in for a tackle on big Rau and he fell awkwardly and landed on my leg and broke my ankle," said Lolesi. "I was ruled out of the Grand Final.

"There's a bit of irony here, I'm playing against the guy this weekend. I'd better get one back on Rau!

"But I'm not really thinking about those things, that's all behind me. I'm not superstitious and I'm thinking about winning.

"Those type of things happen. We've just lost Danny Kirmond to injury and I know what he is going through. I phoned him to let him know that but I'm sure he'll come back stronger."

Lolesi is now in his third season with the Giants and is relishing his role in the club's resurgence.

The Giants finished a lowly 10th in Super League last year but have been revived under new coach Nathan Brown this term and now seem certain to finish in the top four.

Challenge Cup glory would cap an outstanding campaign and Lolesi insists none of it is down to luck.

He said: "I never thought in my wildest dreams we could do this in such a short period, after the trouble we had internally last year and losing the coach [Jon Sharp] halfway through.

"We've exceeded expectations but we've worked really hard for this. If we win it won't be any fluke. The work's been done on and off the field.

"We haven't got the best roster, you could say we haven't got the best players. But we work hard for each other and that is how you win games."

Lolesi has no doubt the arrival of former St George-Illawarra coach Brown has been the catalyst for this season's successes.

"He's the best coach I've ever had and I've played under some good ones," he said.

"His man-management is second to none and he is honest with the players.

"He has given me more than a couple of roastings - I think I'm his favourite player to give a bit of a slap on the wrist to - but maybe that spurs me on a little bit. He's a great coach."

And there is no resting on laurels ahead of a game against a Wolves side the Giants beat in Super League last month.

"I think Warrington are a great team," Lolesi said. "They can score at any time from anywhere on the pitch.

"We have got our work cut out. There's not much between us and it'll be a close game."

Before then, however, comes a long build-up in which media scrutiny of preparations and excitement is like no other week of the season.

Lolesi is determined to savour every moment of it.

"It means the world to me to be playing at Wembley," he said. "This will probably be the biggest day of my career.

"I've got family coming over and I've had so many emails in my inbox - friends, past team-mates and coaches all wishing me well. It's so exciting.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I want to enjoy the week and soak it all in and have a good time.

"Not many players get this opportunity so this is going to be big for me."