Expect a tight battle in this game as sixth-placed Salford host fifth-placed Castleford. Here’s everything you need to know.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Salford
Salford’s win against Wakefield last week came at the right time for them, having lost their last four fixtures, the first being the Challenge Cup sixth round.
Sitting just outside the top five, victory for the Red Devils would see them move onto joint points with Castleford but they have a superior points difference thus far.
Castleford
The Tigers have certainly been the one of the most inconsistent teams this year ,with much of that coming down to injuries.
Two wins and two losses in their last four games means they’re still up there but failing to beat St Helens and Hull, who both sit above them, means they might not quite have what it takes this year.
SQUAD NEWS
Salford
Ryan Lannon rejoined the club from Hull KR during the week on loan as part of a swap deal, seeing Daniel Murray going the opposite way.
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Greg Johnson is also included in the 19-man squad.
George Griffin and Ben Nakubuwai both drop out of the side.
Salford 19-man squad: Evalds, Welham, Sa’u, Bibby, Lui, Mossop, Dudson, Jones, Flanagan, Lussick, Walker, Burke, McCarthy, Tomkins, Johnson, Olpherts, Inu, Lannon, Hastings.
Castleford
Head coach Daryl Powell has named an unchanged squad for the first time this season.
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Oliver Holmes was due to return imminently but has had a further setback with his knee injury, having sat out the last eight games.
Castleford 19-man squad: Aston, Blair, Clare, Clarkson, Cook, Eden, Massey, Mata’utia, McMeeken, McShane, Millington, Milner, Minikin, Moors, Rankin, Sene-Lefao, Smith, Trueman, Watts.
HEAD TO HEAD
These two sides haven’t met since March, when the Tigers ran out 24-20 winners against a very determined Salford side. This win continued Castleford’s home-winning streak.
KEY BATTLE
Niall Evalds (Salford) v Peter Mata’utia (Castleford)
Both fullbacks have been catalysts to their team’s success this season. Both are strong in attack, with Evalds sitting second in the try-scoring charts with 16 and Mata’utia with just two to his name.
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Mata’utia has, however, fallen more into an assisting role, with twelve try assists to his name this season. Evalds tends to be more of a do-er compared to Mata’utia’s support play.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 21st June
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
WHO WILL WIN?
This is one of those games that could go either way, with Castleford’s inconsistency and Salford’s current losing streak. Salford’s superior attack and the fact that they’re at home should just sneak them the win. Salford by 4 points.
