Super League: Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Wildcats preview

Both Castleford and Wakefield have more than just pride to play for when the two neighbours clash at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Sunday afternoon.

With St Helens slipping up at home to Warrington on Thursday night, the Tigers remain in the running to win the League Leaders’ Shield for finishing the regular season on top of the table.

Daryl Powell’s side can reclaim second place in the standings from the Wolves if they complete a hat-trick of wins over the Wildcats in 2014.

They won 43-20 at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium back in April before handing out a 50-12 thrashing on the second day of Magic Weekend in Manchester.

Yet the visitors are in desperate need of the points themselves, knowing they must upset their local rivals if they are to remain in the hunt for a playoff place. Yet even an away victory might not be enough, with Widnes needing just a point from their final two outings to secure eighth.

Castleford bounced back from their Tetley’s Challenge Cup final loss to Leeds with a home win over Bradford last time out, and Powell could opt to stick with the same side.

Gareth Carvell and Adam Milner are added to the 17 that were on duty against the Bulls; Justin Carney, Grant Millington and Craig Huby remain sidelined.

Wakefield, meanwhile, have named Chris Annakin and Jordan Crowther in their 19-man squad for the short away trip.

The pair come in as skipper Danny Kirmond and centre Dean Collis are ruled out. On-loan centre Jimmy Keinhorst has returned to parent club Leeds to cover for the absence of the suspended Joel Moon.

Castleford: Dixon, Shenton, Webster, Dorn, Sneyd, Lynch, Milner, Hauraki, Massey, Clark, Holmes, Mariano, Wheeldon, Ellis, Channing, Clare, Finn, Jewitt, Carvell.

Wakefield: D. Smith, Riley, Crowther, Annakin, Sykes, Lauitiiti, Raleigh, McShane, Gilmour, Sammut, Washbrook, Godinet, Owen, Anderson, T. Smith, Tautai, Lyne, Molloy, Wildie.