Salford look to make it three wins from three in the Qualifiers at Halifax. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Halifax
Head coach Richard Marshall makes four changes to his 19-man squad, following a second defeat from two last time out away at Toulouse.
The big blow is the loss of goal-kicking centre Steve Tyrer, who could be out for the rest of the season with the same medial ligament injury that has already ended Ed Barber’s 2018 campaign.
James Saltonstall, Elliot Morris and James Green all drop out as well, with powerhouse prop Adam Tangata a welcome return for Marshall alongside the recalled Will Maher, Sion Jones and Sam Wood.
Halifax 19-man squad: Sharp, Heaton, Murrell, Johnston, Kaye, Tangata, Grady, Grix, Fairbank, Moore, Woodburn-Hall, Maher, Butler, Moss, Jones, Baldwinson, Wood, Fleming, Cooper.
Salford Red Devils
Head coach Ian Watson makes two changes to the squad named for the 32-6 victory over Widnes a fortnight ago, which continued their 100% record in the Qualifiers.
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Luke Burgess returnes to the squad after a four-month lay-off with a knee injury, while Tyrone McCarthy also comes back in after missing the Vikings clash.
Craig Kopczak and Lee Mossop are the two forwards that make way.
Salford 19-man squad: Welham, Sa’u, Evalds, Lui, Jones, Flanagan, Tasi, Lannon, Burgess, McCarthy, Nakubuwai, Wood, Olpherts, Bibby, Murray, Chamberlain, Burke, Hastings, Lussick.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides let met in 2015 in the Qualifiers, when Salford ran out comfortable 50-28 winners at the MBi Shay.
Niall Evalds, Greg Johnson and Ben Jones-Bishop all scored trebles in a red-hot display that the Red Devils will hope to emulate this time around.
KAY BATTLE – Jackson Hastings vs Scott Murrell
Jackson Hastings has been in superb form since joining Salford in July, having a big influence in all three matches so far to help to turn a four-game losing streak into a three-match winning run.
His skill and flair has brought a dimension to their attack that has been badly missing, and his ability to create opportunities will be key in the remainder of the campaign.
He goes up against a very different half-back in Scott Murrell, but the experienced stand-off is similarly key to his side and has had a very impressive campaign.
However, it took Fax 154 minutes to register their first points in the Qualifiers, and he and partner Ben Johnston will need to be better against Salford for them to have any chance of pushing their Super League guests close.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 2nd September
Venue: MBi Shay Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Grant
POLL
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