Super League: Huddersfield Giants v St Helens preview
Last Updated: 12/09/14 10:33am
St Helens will lift the League Leaders’ Shield on Friday night if they avoid defeat to Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith’s Stadium in the final round of Super League action.
Nathan Brown’s Saints could have secured top spot last week, but defeat at the hands of Warrington Wolves meant the race for the League Leaders’ Shield goes into Round 27 – the climax of the regular season.
Castleford Tigers are the lone threat to Saints but victory or a draw, at the John Smith’s Stadium will see the 12-time champions claim a sixth League Leaders’ Shield and their first since 2008.
Meanwhile, the fifth-placed Giants – unbeaten in their last five league outings - enter the final round knowing victory could see them break into the top four and earn a second lifeline when it comes to the knockout stages.
Paul Anderson’s side are level on points with reigning champions Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves, who face each other on Thursday night, meaning a win or a draw against Saints could see the Giants sneak into the top four.
Huddersfield enter the clash on the back of a 38-28 victory over Hull FC, though, coach Anderson is demanding improvements from his side after they found themselves 18-4 down in that game.
“We can’t keep taking that attitude into games, if we keep taking that forward then that is going to bite us because we have some challenges ahead,” he told the club’s official website.
“We have a St Helens team on Friday that have to win to win some silverware.”
Changes
Ahead of the decisive clash against last season’s League Leaders’ Shield winners, Brown has made two changes to his 19-man squad.
Centre Mark Percival is recalled to the squad following concussion after full-back Shannon McDonnell was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken jaw.
Prop Luke Thompson is also back in Brown’s initial squad at the expense of youngster Greg Richards.
Meanwhile, Anderson has made two changes to the side which came from behind to beat the Airlie Birds in the previous round.
Last season’s Man of Steel Danny Brough and talismanic forward Eorl Crabtree both sit out the final regular season fixture.
Their absence gives Josh Johnson an opportunity to join Anderson’s squad, while former England centre Leroy Cudjoe makes a return after missing last weekend’s win.
Huddersfield Giants: Murphy, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Broughton, Connor, Robinson, Kaufusi, Lunt, Johnson, Ferres, Patrick, Lawrence, Kopczak, Ta’ai, Bailey, Faiumu, Mullally, Fairbank
St Helens: Makinson, Turner, Jones, Swift, Hohaia, Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Manu, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Amor, Wellens, Walmsley, Percival, Wheeler, Dawson, Thompson
You can see Huddersfield Giants v St Helens live on Sky Sports 1HD from 7:30pm
