SUPER LEAGUE: They swap notes, they ring each other regularly, they got their first-team coaching jobs at the same time, one keeps lending the other players - and they go head-to- head tomorrow.

Brian Noble and Tony Smith are two of the closest friends you will find among Super League coaches but their on-field rivalry begins again at the McAlpine after a year's sabbatical.

Tony Smith, who became friends with Noble through his brother Brian, a former coach at Bradford, has already admitted that this clash is the sort of challenge that made the effort in last season's wilderness year outside Super League worthwhile.

And this, the tenth top-flight encounter between the two local sides, is set to be an interesting tactical battle with both men shrewd operators.

Huddersfield's famous victory over Saints was achieved through baffling Ian Millward, with Smith more than capable of playing a variety of different combinations in the backfield to bamboozle opponents.

Despite Noble's shrewd tactics and huge array of talented and versatile players, this tie ranks as one of the potential banana skins of the season for the Bulls.

"Brian Noble is a good coach and a nice man," said Smith, while standing alongside Brian McDermott, now part of his coaching staff at the Giants since the Bradford prop ended his long and proud association with the club.

"I have nothing but respect for all that he has achieved. Yep, it would be fair to say we are pretty good friends.

"Our careers have followed pretty similar paths - we both got to the head coaches jobs at about the same time - but the difference is probably the number of trophies he has won since getting his.

"We have faced similar challenges and problems in the past and both got through. "Look, I have nothing but respect for the guy and I am looking forward to the challenge of going up against his team, although we will really need to lift ourselves to take on the best team in the comp."

Noble shares the admiration of his fellow Super League coach and admits the two of them have swapped notes in the past and are in regular touch.

With his friend Smith at the helm as well as McDermott, Brandon Costin, Alex Wilkinson and former Bull Steve McNamara in the set-up, this game is a bit of a reunion affair.

"There will be a lot of familiar faces around," said Noble.

"But that doesn't make it comfortable, we know this is going to be an uncomfortable day at the office for us.

"They are going to be sparking up against us as one of the top sides and, the reality is, we need to be prepared for that."