Super League: Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers preview
Last Updated: 13/09/14 8:50am
Castleford Tigers can clinch the League Leaders’ Shield for the first time in their 88-year history with victory in Saturday's Sky Live clash at Catalan Dragons.
Leaders St Helens suffered a 17-16 defeat to Huddersfield on Friday in a thrilling encounter at the John Smith's Stadium, meaning the Tigers - this season’s surprise package - will usurp them at the top with success at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
The Tigers put Catalan to the sword earlier in the season with a 32-6 win on home soil, however, the Dragons are a completely different proposition in the south of France.
Catalan are guaranteed a playoff spot and they will want to finish their regular season campaign on a high in order to keep Widnes at bay and boost confidence in Laurent Frayssinous’ squad.
Double boost
Grant Millington and Craig Huby could return for the Tigers with Garreth Carvell and Frankie Mariano missing out due to injuries sustained in last Sunday’s win over Wakefield.
“For the club and this team to be able to say they finished top would be great,” Powell told the Yorkshire Post.
“It’s going to be a tough ask as Catalan are good at home but if we were able to do it, it would be an unbelievable achievement. The very fact we’re in this position now is testimony to all the hard work that’s gone on.
“We’ll know by Saturday what the options are if we win the game - it’ll be first or second - and all we can do is look after our side of the bargain and play well.”
Frayssinous has made two changes to his 19-man squad. Co-captain Greg Mounis and Lopini Paea drop out of the squad and are replaced by Jeff Lima and Jason Baitieri.
Catalan Dragons: Escare, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Maria, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Bousquet, Baitieri, Duport, Cardace, Garcia, Williams.
Castleford: Dixon, Shenton, Webster, Dorn, Sneyd, Lynch, Milner, Huby, Millington, Hauraki, Massey, Clark, Holmes, Wheeldon, Ellis, Channing, Clare, Finn, Jewitt.
Watch Catalan Dragons v Castleford live on Sky Sports 3 from 4.55pm.