Salford will host Toulouse with Super League qualification at stake. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Salford Red Devils
Head Coach Ian Watson has named four changes to his 19-man squad following last week’s defeat at London Broncos.
Jackson Hastings returns to the squad after serving a two-game suspension following a red card in Salford’s last victory over Toronto Wolfpack, and he replaces Jack Littlejohn.
Jackson Hastings, Salford Red Devils. Photo credit: Salford Red Devils official twitter.George Griffin could make his return after missing out in their previous two fixtures, while Daniel Murray and Logan Tomkins also return to the squad in the places of Gavin Bennion, Ed Chamberlain and Jansin Turgut.
Salford 19-man squad: Bibby, Burgess, Burke, Evalds, Flanagan, Griffin, Hastings, Johnson, Jones, Kopczak, Lannon, Lui, Lussick, McCarthy, Murray, Nakubuwai, Olpherts, Tomkins, Welham.
Toulouse Olympique
Head coach Sylvain Houles and his coaching staff have kept the same squad that pulled of a shock win over Hull Kingston Rovers last weekend.
That win kept them in fifth place in the table, but they will likely need another win on Thursday to earn a place in the Million Pound Game.
Toulouse 19-man squad: Khierallah, Ader, Marguerite, Ford, Robin, Boyer, Marion, Planas, Curran, Kriouache, Puech, Hepi, Marcon, Centrone, Sangare, Bretherton, Mika, Seguier, Bartau.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams. However, Salford will be looking to gain some momentum from their back-to-back defeats.
Whereas Toulouse have won three of their previous six games including their big win over promotion challengers Hull Kingston Rovers.
KEY BATTLE – Jackson Hastings vs Johnathon Ford
As we go into the last week of the Super 8s, Toulouse’s win over Hull Kingston Rovers has left the chase for the Super League promotion wide open going into this weekend.
With the two team’s competing for automatic qualification to the Super League next year, the loser could be the away side going into the £1m game.
This means both Salford’s Jackson Hastings and Toulouse’s Johnathon Ford will really have to step up for their respective teams and when they switch on their attacking prowess they can look unstoppable to defend against.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 27th September
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Referee: Ben Thaler
POLL
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