For Huddersfield's Paul Cook, there would be real satisfaction in seeing a team composed predominantly of last season's junior Academy set up, plus three significant newcomers in Whitehaven half back Gregg McNally, Workington hooker Shaun Lunt and Halifax's former Harlequins loanee Joe Walsh, compete with real determination before age - or more precisely the lack of it - finally caught up with them.
And for Fax's Matt Calland, who had demanded a significant improvement on his side's performance at Featherstone on Boxing Day, there was a six-tries-to-three victory, a freshly polished Infirmary Cup and just enough encouraging signs to suggest that his team will be getting it right by the time the Northern Rail Cup kicks off at the beginning of February.
Both sides scored three tries during a low key opening half, with Huddersfield, whose youthful endeavour was typified by the efforts of two Elland juniors, Jacob Fairbank and Ed Barber, just shading an 18-16 lead thanks to Barber's prodigious goal kicking.
But Fax shifted up a gear after the break - although it still looked like third rather than fifth - and touched down thrice more while achieving a shut-out at the other end to complete a victory that was probably more comprehensive than the scoreboard suggests.
One of the highlights was a high speed jousting match on the wing, where Fax's new recruit Rob Worrincy and Giants teenager Jermaine McGilvary both did enough to enthuse their respective camps.
McGilvary, who caused problems all game with his trickery and footwork and was comfortably Huddersfield's most eye-catching individual, earned rave reviews during a loan spell at Batley in 2008 and will return to Mount Pleasant on a similar deal this year.
Worrincy twice showed blistering pace to chase him down here though, carried the ball strongly, and rounded things off with a well taken score in the right hand corner, created with typical composure by centre James Haley, before departing with a leg injury.
Elsewhere, David Larder, Paul Smith and Mark Roberts formed a well balanced back three, full back Miles Greenwood again looked quick and sharp and Frenchman Said Tamghart showed his appetite for destruction with a thunderous tackle on Walsh midway through the opening half.
There were also lengthy, and reasonably encouraging, spells for 16 year old stand off Anthony Bowman and slightly-built utility back Graham Charlesworth, who took over from Greenwood as the last line of defence in the second half and showed the speed and anticipation that has brought him so many tries in the Pennine League in recent years.
Earlier, Fax had the better of the opening exchanges, with Worrincy being held up inches short of the whitewash before Roberts bounced his way over the line for the opening try on 14 minutes.
Ben Black missed the relatively simple conversion, but was on target four minutes later when his pass sent the outstanding Smith striding through to score under the posts.
The home side were in command at that point and might have gone on with the job had Bob Beswick's long pass not been picked off by McNally, who, just as he had in Haven's play off win in September, held off the chasers in a dash for the line.
Barber goaled, but Fax should have stretched their lead just past quarter time when Greenwood's surging break and Black's clinical pass set up Tamghart, only for the former Oldham player to lose the ball over the whitewash.
The Giants took full advantage, replacement Craig Williams scoring and Barber kicking his side into an unlikely 12-10 lead.
Worrincy skated over from Haley's pass soon after, Black making it 16-12 from the touchline, but a searing break by McGilvary gave the Giants the position from which centre Tom Burton strolled over, Barber converting.
Fax regained the lead in the 45th-minute, Greg Johnson inexplicably losing the ball in his own goal and Black pouncing for the easiest of tries.
Black then set up Beswick after some slick build up work, before Jon Goddard profited on the right after the Giants failed to defuse Black's bomb.
The home side almost rounded things off with a late try to trialist centre Mick Fogerty, but the former Keighley player was unable to ground the ball.

MATCH FACTS
Halifax: Miles Greenwood; Lee Patterson, Jon Goddard, James Haley, Rob Worrincy; Bob Beswick, Ben Black; Neil Cherryholme, Mark Gleeson, David Wrench, David Larder, Mark Roberts, Paul Smith. Subs: Mick Fogerty, Said Tamghart, Frank Watene, Andy Bowman, Graham Charlesworth, Anthony Bowman
Tries: Goddard, Worrincy, Beswick, Black, Roberts, Smith
Goals: Black (4)

Huddersfield: Elliott Hodgson; Richard Lopag, Tom Burton, Nathan Chapell, Jermaine McGilvary; Scott Glassell, Greg McNally; Sam Crowther, Shaun Lunt, Adam Walker, Jacob Fairbank, Ed Barber, Joe Walsh. Subs: Tommy Griffiths, Benji Lloyd, Greg Johnson, Abdul Khan, Luke Roberts, Craig Williams, Craig Worthington
Tries: Burton, McNally, Williams
Goals: Barber (3)
Referee: Dave Merrick (Castleford)
Attendance: 2,352