Young winger Ryan Hall justified his surprise selection with two long-range tries as champions Leeds destroyed Huddersfield in front of their record Super League crowd of 15,629.
The 20-year-old, given the nod by Rhinos coach Brian McClennan ahead of last week's two-try hero Lee Smith, responded with a spectacular double either side of half-time on only his 10th appearance for the club.
Full-back Brent Webb also scored two tries as Leeds displayed further evidence of their determination to hang on to their title, while providing Huddersfield with an indication of the size of the task ahead of them if they are once more reach the play-offs.
Webb was quick off the mark to follow up grubber kicks from Matt Diskin and Danny McGuire to claim both his tries in the first period and he was also responsible for the game's pivotal moment midway through the half.
Huddersfield's pacy left winger Rod Jensen demonstrated powerful finishing to score an 11th-minute try and he looked destined to go over again after being released by his centre Paul Whatuira until Webb came up with a try-saving tackle.
The Giants, who had four men making their debut, had their moments but they lacked the penetration to seriously trouble the champions, who were solid in defence and more potent than their opponents in attack.
Second-rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan was put through a gap by McGuire for their second try while Hall sprinted 60 metres to touch down just before the interval after substitute Ali Lauitiiti offloaded from the tackle.
Hall surpassed his first effort four minutes into the second half, snapping up Kevin Brown's floated pass intended for Jensen and showing a clean pair of heels on a 90-metre dash to the line.
Debutant scrum-half Luke Robinson gave Huddersfield brief hope of a comeback when he went over for a solo try on 63 minutes, to which Chris Thorman added the goal, but they had given themselves too much to do.
They kept their visitors at bay in the final quarter with Leeds having to rely on a solitary penalty from Rob Burrow for their only points.