Salford Red Devils v Huddersfield Giants: First Utility Super League preview
Last Updated: 08/05/15 10:31pm
Huddersfield Giants will renew hostilities with Salford Red Devils when they visit the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night.
The Red Devils were 18-12 winners at Huddersfield last month and the Giants were fuming after Brett Ferres suffered a serious ankle injury following a 'cannonball' tackle by Rangi Chase.
Chase will not feature in Friday’s return fixture as he is still serving a seven-game suspension for that illegal tackle, while Ferres is expected to be sidelined for three months.
"We owe them one - it's as simple as that," said Giants coach Paul Anderson. "I've still got an international forward not playing because of some of the cheap shots they did that night.”
Salford coach Iestyn Harris labelled Anderson's comments disrespectful but concedes they have added spice to the contest.
"I'm not sure they're the right comments to make about our position and I was surprised at them, if I'm honest, but it potentially has added something to the game," Harris said.
"We're all fighting for the points at the moment. We're in a similar position in the table and we're at home."
Salford are on a four-game losing streak and fell to a 24-20 defeat at Hull last week after failing in their attempts to get the match postponed.
The Reds welcome second rower Weller Hauraki back from suspension and hope to have Adam Walne and Adrian Morley back from injury, but coach Iestyn Harris has doubts over Scott Taylor and Kevin Locke, who has scored three tries in his last two games.
Huddersfield have called up second rower Oliver Roberts for the first time after he returned from a month's loan at Sheffield.
Another youngster, hooker Kruise Leeming, keeps his place in the continuing absence of Luke Robinson with a back strain.
Salford Red Devils: Mason Caton-Brown, Niall Evalds, Theo Fages, Oliver Gildart, Darrell Griffin, George Griffin, Wayne Godwin, Harrison Hansen, Weller Hauraki, Liam Hood, Greg Johnson, Ben Jones-Bishop, Kevin Locke, Adrian Morley, Lama Tasi, Scott Taylor, Jordan Walne, Adam Walne, Jay Walton.
Huddersfield Giants: Danny Brough, Jodie Broughton, Jake Connor, Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe, Jamie Ellis, Scott Grix, Craig Huby, Jack Hughes, Craig Kopczak, Michael Lawrence, Kruise Leeming, Jermaine McGillvary, Anthony Mullally, Aaron Murphy, Oliver Roberts, Ukuma Ta’ai, Joe Wardle, Kyle Wood.
Watch Salford Red Devils v Huddersfield Giants live on Sky Sports 2 on Friday from 7.30pm