Huddersfield v Castleford preview
Huddersfield Giants have named an unchanged 19-man squad for their crucial Super 8 derby with Castleford.
Paul Anderson's side are currently third in the table, two points clear of the fifth-placed Tigers with both teams eyeing a top four play-off spot.
Castleford captain and England centre Shenton will be sidelined this week after suffering a dislocated shoulder during the defeat against the Dragons, while blockbusting winger Carney has is serving an internal club suspension.
They have been two of the Tigers’ most dangerous backs this season, and with fellow explosive three-quarter Jake Webster also out injured, Castleford’s task in Huddersfield will be so much harder.
As a result, gaining revenge for a 22-0 defeat at the Giants in March and narrow 24-16 loss to Huddersfield in Castleford three months later will take a big effort.
It’s a must win game for both teams and one Tigers veteran Andy Lynch is looking forward to “After the loss at Catalans and a break with the Challenge Cup Final we all can't wait to get back to business. The performance we put in at Catalans just was not us, and we need to right the wrongs. We all know how important getting that win is on Thursday night and we'll be up for the challenge,”
“There's a few ex team mates and good friends in that Giants team, but friendship gets left at the door for games like this. This is business and we want to make that top four so bad.”
Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Huby, Hughes, Lawrence, Kopczak, Ta'ai, Broughton, Ellis, Connor, Leeming, Roberts, Smith
Castleford: Boyle, Channing, Cook, Dorn, Finn, Gale, Gibson, Holmes, Lynch, Massey, McMeeken, McShane, Millington, Milner, Moors, Roberts, Solomona, Springer, Wheeldon
