Amid reports of a weekend of scorchingly hot weather, Super League enters round 21 with six teams eager to complete a league double over their opponents but with the the league tightly bunched anything could happen.
Tonight sees Leeds host Castleford with a place at the Super League summit the prize for the winners with the Rhinos eager to complete a double over the Tigers.
Leeds are in mixed form with three wins in five games and bounced back from a narrow loss to Wakefield with a comfortable win over Hull KR last weekend and will be keen to take advantage of playing ahead of their rivals this weekend.
Castleford after a superb season so far have three wins in their last five and still have hopes of a top four finish after rivals have also slipped up recently and after a trio of wins including last weeks canter over Huddersfield they will be keen for another win against a fellow Yorkshire side.
Last season's meeting at Headingley saw Leeds win 42-24 as well as securing a home win over the Tigers in the Challenge Cup with a 28-12 win but earlier this season, the sides were closely matched as the Rhinos secured a 14-22 win at the Jungle.
Leeds welcome back Zak Hardaker from suspension with Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Ian Kirke and Kylie Leuluai all return while Castleford include Luke Dorn and Weller Hauraki in place of Ashley Gibson and James Clare.
Leeds- Hardaker, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leiluai, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Delaney, Kirke, Achurch, Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Walters
Castleford- Dixon, Shenton, Webster, Carney, Dorn, Sneyd, Lynch, Milner, Huby, Millington, Hauraki, Massey, Clark, Holmes, Mariano, Wheeldon, Ellis, Finn, Jewitt
A close game is a certainty here so Leeds 24 Castleford 22.
Friday night sees two games with the televised tie being the fierce derby between Widnes and Warrington with the Wolves eager to secure a league double over their neighbours.
Widnes come into the derby game in woeful form with just one win in five games and are in danger of slipping out of the top eight with the chasing pack now within a point of the Vikings who suffered a narrow defeat to Wakefield last weekend.
Warrington in comparison to their neighbours are in stunning form after eight straight wins which continued last weekend with a 72-12 demolition of London who were relegated as a result and with the top four close together they have the chance to potentially go top of the league.
Last season's meeting at Widnes saw the Vikings secure a 38-22 win which formed part of a league double over their fierce rivals but after a 44-6 loss earlier this season, they are halfway to suffering a duo of defeats to the Wolves.
Widnes are without the suspended Phil Joseph and Lloyd White with Liam Carberry, Cameron Phelps and Jack Owens included while Warrington name an unchaged squad from their win over London.
Widnes- Allen, Brown, Cahill, Carberry, Clarke, Dean, Flynn, Galea, Gerrard, Hanbury, Isa, Johnson, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, Owens, Phelps, Tickle
Warrington- Asotasi, Atkikns, C Bridge, Currie, Dwyer, England, R Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, O’Brien, Ormsby, Philbin, Ratchford, Riley, Russell, Westwood, Wood.
This could be a really bad day for Widnes as I tip Warrington to coast to a win so Widnes 18 Warrington 38.
Tomorrow's other match sees a rematch of last season's Challenge Cup final as Wigan host Hull FC with the Warriors keen to make it three wins in a row with their young side.
Wigan come into the game in good form with three wins from their last five games including a fiery win away to Catalan last weekend and depending on other results could top the table themselves come Saturday morning which would be an achievement with a patched up side.
Hull are in shocking form with one win in their last five which includes three defeats and a draw and with the top eight fight narrowing they are in desperate need of a win to keep up their hopes of reaching the play-offs but after a mixed performance in a 35-22 loss to Salford, the hope is slipping.
Last season's meeting at the DW stadium saw a youthful Wigan side defeated 33-34 by a similarly young Hull side in the week after their Challenge Cup meeting where Wigan sealed a 16-0 win at Wembley. Their meeting earlier this season saw Wigan run riot at the KC stadium in a 44-16 and as such are on course for a double over the Airlie Birds.
Wigan's injury list gained Eddy Pettybourne (Jaw), Matt Bowen (Shoulder) and Joe Burgess (Knee) so draft in Ryan Sutton and Lewis Tierney with Dom Manfredi likely to deputise on the wing while Hull include James Cunningham and Richard Whiting in place of Aaron Heremaia and Callum Lancaster.
Wigan- Bateman, Burke, Charnley, Clubb, Crosby, L Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Hughes, James, Manfredi, O’Loughlin, S Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Taylor, Tierney, Williams
Hull FC- Abdull, Bowden, Cunningham, Green, Hadley, Horne, Houghton, Lineham, Paea, Paleaaesina, Rankin, Sa, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Despite Wigan's injuries, Hull have been woeful recently and could continue in that vain tomorrow so Wigan 32 Hull 12.
Saturday features two games that based on last season's meetings could result in a huge shock at both the top and bottom of the table.
London play host to St Helens in a battle of bottom against top with the Broncos playing for the first time since their relegation was confirmed.
London come into the game still without a win this season after 20 successive losses with the most recent being a 72-12 humbling away to Warrington which confirmed their relegation to next season's Championship and with a number of players already agreeing new clubs for 2015, morale is very low at The Hive.
St Helens despite topping the table have only won three of their last five games including a comfortable win over Bradford last weekend but with the chasing pack within two points of the Saints, they could kick-off on Saturday from fourth place.
Last season's meeting at London saw one of the biggest shocks of the season as the Broncos stunned the Saints in a 21-14 win, one which would be very welcoming should it be repeated but earlier this season, Saints secured a comfortable 48-18 win and are on course for a league double.
London are without Saints bound Atelea Vea due to suspension with newly signed Oscar Thomas included alongside the returning Mike McMeeken, James Woodburn-Hall and Joe Keyes while Saints include Anthony Laffranchi and Matty Dawson in place of Adam Swift and Greg Richards.
London - Atkins, Cook, Dollapi, Drinkwater, Farrar, Foster, Griffin, Krasniqi, Keyes, Lovell, McMeeken, Minns, Moore, Slyney, Solomona, Thomas, Wallace, Wicks, Woodburn-Hall
St Helens- Makinson, Turner, Jones, Hohaia, Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Amor, Wellens, Walmsley, Percival, Wheeler, Dawson, Thompson.
Every neutral and Wigan fan would surely love London's first win to be against the Saints but after last week's loss it is hard to see so London 16 St Helens 38.
After a bad-tempered loss to Wigan last weekend, Catalan host a Wakefield side unbeaten in five games under coach James Webster.
Catalan come into the game with three wins from their last five games but in the loss to Wigan lost two players to the sin-bin and host the Wildcats with two top players suspended as they look to cement their place in the play-offs.
Wakefield are in dreamland after a five successive game without a loss in their narrow win over Widnes but all five were at home so a long trip to Catalan will be a huge test to James Webster's near perfect start at the helm of the Wildcats.
Last season's meeting in Perpignan saw the Wildcats suffer a 29-22 defeat to the Dragons but the meeting earlier this season saw a woeful Dragons side thrashed 56-14 by a rampant Wildcats side and on their present form, the Wildcats will be eager to complete a double over the Dragons.
Catalan are without the suspended duo of Vincent Duport and Gregory Mounis with Damien Cardace and Benjamin Garcia also missing out as Lopini Paea, Mickael Simon, Thomas Bosc and Antoni Maria return while Wakefield welcome back captain Danny Kirmond, Jarrod Sammut with Chris Annakin and Andy Raleigh missing out.
Catalan- Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Maria, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Simon, Bousquet, Paea, Baitieri, Williams
Wakefield- Mathers, Lyne, Sykes, Anderson, McShane, Lauititi, Kirmond, Washbrook, Wildie, Ryan, Moore, Tautai, Keinhorst, Sammut, Scruton, Riley, Owen, Gilmour, Smith.
Recent form suggests this will be a close one and I will take a risk and tip Wakefield so Catalan 24 Wakefield 28.
Sunday sees two games with many neutrals likely to be keeping an eye on the tie between Huddersfield and Bradford given that a loss for the Bulls will confirm their relegation to the Championship.
Huddersfield come into the game on the back of two defeats against Salford and Castleford with the latter denting their hopes of a top four finish and leaving their chances of retaining the League Leaders Shield slipping away.
Bradford come into the game with no wins in their last five games and a sixth consecutive defeat would end their 19 year stay in Super League which would be a huge fall from grace given that they are one of only four teams to win the Super League and even secured three titles.
Last season's meeting at Huddersfield saw Bradford secure a 16-43 as part of a double over the League Leaders but the Bulls are on course to suffer a trio of losses to the Giants in 2014 after a 66-18 loss in the reverse meeting coupled with a 54-16 loss at the Magic Weekend.
Form suggests Huddersfield to win so I will tip them but I see Bradford putting up a fight so Huddersfield 32 Bradford 20.
The final game of the weekend sees Hull KR host Salford with both harbouring hopes of a play-off place.
Hull KR go into the game with two wins in their last five games and after a bad second half saw them lost 30-6 to Leeds after a 0-0 half-time score, they will be eager to bounce back and also take advantage should their close rivals lose.
Salford are in a buoyant mood after two wins in a row made it three in their last five games after wins over Huddersfield and Hull and after a number of new signings they are confident of sneaking into the play-offs in the final few rounds.
Last season's meeting at Craven Park saw the Robins win 28-18 and after a 16-16 draw in the reverse meeting earlier this season, this game is the only one in round 21 with no potential double on the cards.
A close game on paper but I see Hull KR edging a win so Hull KR 25 Salford 22.
Tonight sees Leeds host Castleford with a place at the Super League summit the prize for the winners with the Rhinos eager to complete a double over the Tigers.
Leeds are in mixed form with three wins in five games and bounced back from a narrow loss to Wakefield with a comfortable win over Hull KR last weekend and will be keen to take advantage of playing ahead of their rivals this weekend.
Castleford after a superb season so far have three wins in their last five and still have hopes of a top four finish after rivals have also slipped up recently and after a trio of wins including last weeks canter over Huddersfield they will be keen for another win against a fellow Yorkshire side.
Last season's meeting at Headingley saw Leeds win 42-24 as well as securing a home win over the Tigers in the Challenge Cup with a 28-12 win but earlier this season, the sides were closely matched as the Rhinos secured a 14-22 win at the Jungle.
Leeds welcome back Zak Hardaker from suspension with Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Ian Kirke and Kylie Leuluai all return while Castleford include Luke Dorn and Weller Hauraki in place of Ashley Gibson and James Clare.
Leeds- Hardaker, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leiluai, Aiton, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Delaney, Kirke, Achurch, Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Walters
Castleford- Dixon, Shenton, Webster, Carney, Dorn, Sneyd, Lynch, Milner, Huby, Millington, Hauraki, Massey, Clark, Holmes, Mariano, Wheeldon, Ellis, Finn, Jewitt
A close game is a certainty here so Leeds 24 Castleford 22.
Friday night sees two games with the televised tie being the fierce derby between Widnes and Warrington with the Wolves eager to secure a league double over their neighbours.
Widnes come into the derby game in woeful form with just one win in five games and are in danger of slipping out of the top eight with the chasing pack now within a point of the Vikings who suffered a narrow defeat to Wakefield last weekend.
Warrington in comparison to their neighbours are in stunning form after eight straight wins which continued last weekend with a 72-12 demolition of London who were relegated as a result and with the top four close together they have the chance to potentially go top of the league.
Last season's meeting at Widnes saw the Vikings secure a 38-22 win which formed part of a league double over their fierce rivals but after a 44-6 loss earlier this season, they are halfway to suffering a duo of defeats to the Wolves.
Widnes are without the suspended Phil Joseph and Lloyd White with Liam Carberry, Cameron Phelps and Jack Owens included while Warrington name an unchaged squad from their win over London.
Widnes- Allen, Brown, Cahill, Carberry, Clarke, Dean, Flynn, Galea, Gerrard, Hanbury, Isa, Johnson, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, Owens, Phelps, Tickle
Warrington- Asotasi, Atkikns, C Bridge, Currie, Dwyer, England, R Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, O’Brien, Ormsby, Philbin, Ratchford, Riley, Russell, Westwood, Wood.
This could be a really bad day for Widnes as I tip Warrington to coast to a win so Widnes 18 Warrington 38.
Tomorrow's other match sees a rematch of last season's Challenge Cup final as Wigan host Hull FC with the Warriors keen to make it three wins in a row with their young side.
Wigan come into the game in good form with three wins from their last five games including a fiery win away to Catalan last weekend and depending on other results could top the table themselves come Saturday morning which would be an achievement with a patched up side.
Hull are in shocking form with one win in their last five which includes three defeats and a draw and with the top eight fight narrowing they are in desperate need of a win to keep up their hopes of reaching the play-offs but after a mixed performance in a 35-22 loss to Salford, the hope is slipping.
Last season's meeting at the DW stadium saw a youthful Wigan side defeated 33-34 by a similarly young Hull side in the week after their Challenge Cup meeting where Wigan sealed a 16-0 win at Wembley. Their meeting earlier this season saw Wigan run riot at the KC stadium in a 44-16 and as such are on course for a double over the Airlie Birds.
Wigan's injury list gained Eddy Pettybourne (Jaw), Matt Bowen (Shoulder) and Joe Burgess (Knee) so draft in Ryan Sutton and Lewis Tierney with Dom Manfredi likely to deputise on the wing while Hull include James Cunningham and Richard Whiting in place of Aaron Heremaia and Callum Lancaster.
Wigan- Bateman, Burke, Charnley, Clubb, Crosby, L Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Hughes, James, Manfredi, O’Loughlin, S Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Taylor, Tierney, Williams
Hull FC- Abdull, Bowden, Cunningham, Green, Hadley, Horne, Houghton, Lineham, Paea, Paleaaesina, Rankin, Sa, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Despite Wigan's injuries, Hull have been woeful recently and could continue in that vain tomorrow so Wigan 32 Hull 12.
Saturday features two games that based on last season's meetings could result in a huge shock at both the top and bottom of the table.
London play host to St Helens in a battle of bottom against top with the Broncos playing for the first time since their relegation was confirmed.
London come into the game still without a win this season after 20 successive losses with the most recent being a 72-12 humbling away to Warrington which confirmed their relegation to next season's Championship and with a number of players already agreeing new clubs for 2015, morale is very low at The Hive.
St Helens despite topping the table have only won three of their last five games including a comfortable win over Bradford last weekend but with the chasing pack within two points of the Saints, they could kick-off on Saturday from fourth place.
Last season's meeting at London saw one of the biggest shocks of the season as the Broncos stunned the Saints in a 21-14 win, one which would be very welcoming should it be repeated but earlier this season, Saints secured a comfortable 48-18 win and are on course for a league double.
London are without Saints bound Atelea Vea due to suspension with newly signed Oscar Thomas included alongside the returning Mike McMeeken, James Woodburn-Hall and Joe Keyes while Saints include Anthony Laffranchi and Matty Dawson in place of Adam Swift and Greg Richards.
London - Atkins, Cook, Dollapi, Drinkwater, Farrar, Foster, Griffin, Krasniqi, Keyes, Lovell, McMeeken, Minns, Moore, Slyney, Solomona, Thomas, Wallace, Wicks, Woodburn-Hall
St Helens- Makinson, Turner, Jones, Hohaia, Masoe, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Amor, Wellens, Walmsley, Percival, Wheeler, Dawson, Thompson.
Every neutral and Wigan fan would surely love London's first win to be against the Saints but after last week's loss it is hard to see so London 16 St Helens 38.
After a bad-tempered loss to Wigan last weekend, Catalan host a Wakefield side unbeaten in five games under coach James Webster.
Catalan come into the game with three wins from their last five games but in the loss to Wigan lost two players to the sin-bin and host the Wildcats with two top players suspended as they look to cement their place in the play-offs.
Wakefield are in dreamland after a five successive game without a loss in their narrow win over Widnes but all five were at home so a long trip to Catalan will be a huge test to James Webster's near perfect start at the helm of the Wildcats.
Last season's meeting in Perpignan saw the Wildcats suffer a 29-22 defeat to the Dragons but the meeting earlier this season saw a woeful Dragons side thrashed 56-14 by a rampant Wildcats side and on their present form, the Wildcats will be eager to complete a double over the Dragons.
Catalan are without the suspended duo of Vincent Duport and Gregory Mounis with Damien Cardace and Benjamin Garcia also missing out as Lopini Paea, Mickael Simon, Thomas Bosc and Antoni Maria return while Wakefield welcome back captain Danny Kirmond, Jarrod Sammut with Chris Annakin and Andy Raleigh missing out.
Catalan- Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Anderson, Maria, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Simon, Bousquet, Paea, Baitieri, Williams
Wakefield- Mathers, Lyne, Sykes, Anderson, McShane, Lauititi, Kirmond, Washbrook, Wildie, Ryan, Moore, Tautai, Keinhorst, Sammut, Scruton, Riley, Owen, Gilmour, Smith.
Recent form suggests this will be a close one and I will take a risk and tip Wakefield so Catalan 24 Wakefield 28.
Sunday sees two games with many neutrals likely to be keeping an eye on the tie between Huddersfield and Bradford given that a loss for the Bulls will confirm their relegation to the Championship.
Huddersfield come into the game on the back of two defeats against Salford and Castleford with the latter denting their hopes of a top four finish and leaving their chances of retaining the League Leaders Shield slipping away.
Bradford come into the game with no wins in their last five games and a sixth consecutive defeat would end their 19 year stay in Super League which would be a huge fall from grace given that they are one of only four teams to win the Super League and even secured three titles.
Last season's meeting at Huddersfield saw Bradford secure a 16-43 as part of a double over the League Leaders but the Bulls are on course to suffer a trio of losses to the Giants in 2014 after a 66-18 loss in the reverse meeting coupled with a 54-16 loss at the Magic Weekend.
Form suggests Huddersfield to win so I will tip them but I see Bradford putting up a fight so Huddersfield 32 Bradford 20.
The final game of the weekend sees Hull KR host Salford with both harbouring hopes of a play-off place.
Hull KR go into the game with two wins in their last five games and after a bad second half saw them lost 30-6 to Leeds after a 0-0 half-time score, they will be eager to bounce back and also take advantage should their close rivals lose.
Salford are in a buoyant mood after two wins in a row made it three in their last five games after wins over Huddersfield and Hull and after a number of new signings they are confident of sneaking into the play-offs in the final few rounds.
Last season's meeting at Craven Park saw the Robins win 28-18 and after a 16-16 draw in the reverse meeting earlier this season, this game is the only one in round 21 with no potential double on the cards.
A close game on paper but I see Hull KR edging a win so Hull KR 25 Salford 22.
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