Huddersfield Giants look to avoid a third-straight league defeat when they host Hull KR at the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday night. Here’s everything you need to know.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Huddersfield Giantsย
The Giants have already lost their last three matches in all competitions after being beaten by St Helens in the Challenge Cup last week.
A win on Friday would be their first since beating bottom-placed side London Broncos 19-14.
Hull KR
And KR are in even worse form, losing their last four.
The 45-26 win over Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos at the start of April was the last time the Robins picked up two points.
SQUAD NEWS
Huddersfield Giants
Michael Lawrence returns after missing the defeat to St. Helens and is the only addition to the squad from last week.
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The back-rower was serving a one-match suspension.
Huddersfield 19-man squad:ย McIntosh, McGillvary, Turner, Gaskell, Clough, Leeming, Matagi, Murphy, Lawrence, O’Brien, Ta’ai, English, Jake Wardle, Russell, Hewitt, L Senior, I Senior, Joe Wardle.
Hull KR
Hull KR welcome back Mitch Garbutt to their squad following a four-game absence because of a knee surgery.
Fellow prop Antoni Maria is also back, having been unable to play in Rovers’ Challenge Cup win at Salford because of the terms of his loan from Catalans.
Hull KR 19-man squad:ย Hall, Crooks, Keinhorst, Shaw, McGuire, Mulhern, Tomkins, Hauraki, Garbutt, Atkin, Vaivai, Addy, Lawler, Lannon, Linnett, Drinkwater, Oakes, Rooks, Maria.
HEAD TO HEAD
Kruise Leeming and Jermaine McGillvary both scored braces and Lee Gaskell kicked all 10 goals as Huddersfield strolled to a 42-8 win when the sides met in March. Oliver Roberts, Darnell McIntosh and Suaia Matagi also scored in the victory.
But KR got the better of the Giants in both games last season. They walked away from the John Smith’s Stadium, with the two points after triumphing 6-38 before winning the reverse fixture 37-10.
KEY BATTLE
Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants) vs Craig Hall (Hull KR)
Both players are their sides’ most dangerous player, with the quality to score against any side in the league.
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McGillvary got his side right back in the match against Saints last week and looked as though he could inspire an unlikely victory at one stage.
Hall, meanwhile, stole the show in this fixture last season and will looking to do so again after impressing in 2019 so far.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date:ย Friday 17th May
Venue:ย John Smith’s Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee:ย Robert Hicks
WHO WILL WIN?
The Robins won both meetings last season but the Giants were dominant in the previous duel this campaign and with both sides languishing towards the bottom of the Super League table due to their leaky defences, it is bound to be another high-scoring encounter. Huddersfield should look to use home advantage but they have lost their last two home games and I envisage that number being added to. KR win: 20-26.
