Huddersfield look to keep up their top four chase when they face Wakefield. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield recorded an 11th win in 12 matches with a 26-6 win at home to Hull FC two weeks ago, and head coach Simon Woolford makes three changes to his 19-man squad from that fixture.
Oliver Roberts is the only one of the 17 from that victory not to be named for the visit of Wakefield, with Daniel Smith and Jake Wardle also dropping out.
Both Aaron Murphy and Michael Lawrence return from injuries and are set for a first appearance in the Super 8s in a big boost for the Giants, while Jake Mamo is also recalled having featured just once since May.
Huddersfield 19-man squad: Mamo, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Turner, Murphy, Gaskell, Brough, Leeming, Lawrence, Hinchcliffe, Ferguson, Rankin, Ta’ai, Clough, O’Brien, Mellor, McIntosh, Roche, Matagi.
Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield coach Chris Chester makes two changes to the squad that was defeated 36-16 at home to St Helens two weeks ago.
David Fifita will sit out the rest of the season due to a persistent groin problem, while Chris Annakin also drops out.
Keegan Hirst returns to the squad alongside Jordan Crowther, who could make his first appearance of the season for Trinity, while Scott Grix is named again as he waits for a return from his length lay-off.
Wakefield 19-man squad: Grix, Johnstone, Tupou, Lyne, Jones-Bishop, Miller, Wood, England, Ashurst, Randell, Horo, Pauli, Arona, Huby, Batchelor, Hirst, Jowitt, Hampshire, Crowther.
HEAD TO HEAD
This is the fifth meeting between the West Yorkshire rivals, this season, with the Giants claiming each of the last three.
Trinity won at the Mobile Rocket Stadium at the start of March but Huddersfield beat them two weeks on the trot in May, 24-12 in the Challenge Cup and then 25-22 at Magic Weekend.
The Claret and Gold then won 40-28 in the final round of the regular Season season, with Jermaine McGillvary scoring a hat-trick in a deserved victory.
KEY BATTLE – Lee Gaskell vs Jacob Miller
Wakefield have a formidable back division but their success relies on the work of Jacob Miller at stand-off. When he is at his best Trinity are a serious match for anyone, with few players in Super League as capable of creating tries as he is, but without him on top form they lack direction.
The opposite number six on Friday night will be Lee Gaskell, whose career has been revitalised since the arrival of Simon Woolford at Huddersfield. He has moved back into the halves and is in the best form of his career, forming a dangerous partnership with Danny Brough that usually runs that show.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 31st August
Venue: John Smith’s Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Referee: Gareth Hewer
