Sky Bet's rugby league expert tells us where the smart money will be going on this weekend's action.
Sky Bet's Jordan Fiddes gives his view on this weekend's huge Super League clash
Looking at the end of season run-in, Wigan versus Huddersfield on Friday could easily decide the League Leaders Shield with three games to play.
The current holders, Wigan, have a tough finish with Leeds and Hull at home and Catalans away, but winning this game will give them a one-point advantage going into those fixtures.
The Giants, on the other hand, have a much easier finish to the regular season, facing three teams all currently outside of the top eight.
If Huddersfield were to win this game, they would then be
odds on to win the Shield and Wigan - estimated by our traders - would go out to
6/1.
They have been given a
+6 start for this 'make or break' fixture, but I am backing them outright at
7/4.
The Giants edged a 22-10 victory back in round three of the competition at the John Smith's Stadium and also won on their last visit to the DW Stadium.
Again, that was a closely fought contest as the men from Fartown won 20-16 against the eventual table-toppers.
I expect it to be a narrow victory again on Friday so, if you are ambitious, it's worth a look at the '
Winning Margin' market where Huddersfield are
16/5 to win by 1-10 points or
7/1 to win by 1-6 as they did in 2012.
Although Wigan will welcome back some of their big guns - Sam Tomkins, Pat Richards and Liam Farrell all return - they are still without their skipper Sean O'Loughlin and also Matty Smith in the halves.
The current league leaders, however, are at full strength and have won their last five games on the bounce in Super League.
The men from West Yorkshire went from a massive
50/1 at the start of the campaign into
11/8 to finish the season top last week.
The Warriors are currently the same price, yet they started the season at
11/4, highlighting the Giants' rise under Paul Anderson's tuition.
Lump on Leeds
If Friday night's televised game is likely to be close; Leeds' trip to Salford at the same time, though, should be the opposite.
It's the Rhinos turn to contend with a double-figured handicap this week, yet I can see them covering the
-18 given to them at
10/11.
Salford are without a home win against Leeds since a 21-12 Regal Trophy success at their old ground, The Willows.
The current champions have won their last nine meetings with Salford and, having triumphed in their last three, they will be in buoyant mood.
Lying one place from the foot of the table, the City Reds have nothing to play for, which has been highlighted in some of their recent performances.
The Rhinos have won by more than 18 points on three of their last outings against this week's opposition and are beginning to welcome key men back with Ryan Bailey the latest to return.
Senior Says...
"
Leeds -18 - I think the Rhinos will be way too strong with Salford in a big rebuilding process at the moment and still struggling in Super League.
"
London +32 - After a positive game against Leeds last week, the Broncos are playing for pride and a 32-point start should be big enough to get the win on the Sky Bet coupon.
"
Wigan -6 - I think with the return of Tomkins and Richards and the hype around Huddersfield at the moment, Wigan will be being too strong for the Giants, especially at home."
View from the Sky Bet trading room...
"The St Helens line has moved for their game against London.
"The Broncos bounced back a little against Leeds but Saints away is a tough fixture for them, yet they did get two days extra rest over the home side.
"We are currently the
joint lowest handicap for the Leeds game but, the Rhinos haven't been blowing teams away recently and Salford's home record is nowhere near as bad as their away one."
