Round 4 will kick-off at AJ Bell Stadium when Salford Red Devils take on St Helens.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Salford Red Devils
If you offered Salford fans three wins out of four at the starts of the season they would bite your hands off. Last week the came from 22-8 down at half time to beat Hull KR 24-22.
St Helens
Similarly to Salford St Helens kept their opposition pointless in the second half as they beat Leeds Rhinos 27-22. Saints still have a 100% record this year.
SQUAD NEWS
Salford Red Devils
Salford have made just one change to their 19 man squad. Former Saint Mark Flanagan comes in with Lee Mossop withdrawing from the squad.
Salford Red Devil’s 19-man squad: 1. Niall Evalds, 3. Kris Welham, 4. Junior Sau, 5. Jake Bibby, 6. Robert Lui, 10. Gil Dudson 11. Josh Hones, 12. George Griffin, 13 Mark Flanagan 14. Joey Lussick, 16. Greg Burke, 17. Tyrone McCarthy, 18. Ben Nakubuwai, 19. Logan Tomkins, 20. Daniel Murray 22. Derrell Olpherts, 23. Ken Sio, 24. Jansin Turgut, 31. Jackson Hastings.
St Helens
Saints have made two changes with Kevin Naqaima missing out due to concussion. 2018 Championship young player of the year, Matty Costello, replaces him. Jack Ashworth also could make his first appearance of the season replacing Danny Richardson who will continue to play on dual-registration for Leigh.
St Helens’ 19-man squad: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Theo Fages, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Joseph Paulo, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Morgan Knowles, 16. Kyle Amor, 17. Dom Peyroux, 19. Matty Lees, 20. Jack Ashworth, 22. James Bentley, 23. Lachlan Coote, 24. Matty Costello.
HEAD TO HEAD
Salford have a really tough ask this weekend against St Helens. Wins are very few and far between. In Super League they have met 44 times with Salford only winning six of them. In their last 10 meetings, Saints have scored over 30 points eight times.
KEY BATTLE
Jackson Hastings (Salford Red Devils) vs Jonny Lomax (St Helens)
If Salford are to beat St Helens then this man has to be on top form. It’s been so far so good for the Australian and he has been influential in Salford’s start to the season. He currently has the most assists in the league with six and also has struck up a good partnership with Robert Lui.
This week Hastings comes up against a player who he admires. In a recent interview about celebrating homegrown players Hastings said that he ‘all the time in the world to watch him play’ and described him as one of his favourite players. Lomax has carried on where his form from last season and has scored in his last two matches as well as having three assists.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Thursday February 28, 2019
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 19:45
Referee: Ben Thaler
WHO WILL WIN?
This might be surprising for some but I have a feeling that Salford might get a shock result. Saints have shown some teams can have success against them and this could be a banana skin for them.
