Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants: Super 8s preview
Last Updated: 06/08/15 9:53pm
Wigan and Huddersfield get the inaugural Super 8s competition under way on Thursday evening with a crucial fixture that could prove vital come the end of the season.
Wigan currently sit in third place, just two points off top spot and with a three-point advantage on Huddersfield in fourth. A win for the Giants would move them to within a point of the Warriors.
Larne Patrick, on-loan from Huddersfield for the season, returns to the Wigan team having missed the win at Hull FC last time out. Dom Manfredi also returns to the squad having not played since the game at Warrington at the start of July. Ryan Hampshire and Ryan Sutton are the pair to miss out.
Wigan coach Shaun Wane feels his side are ready to hit the ground running but is expecting a hard clash against the Giants.
"I think we have our tails up at the moment, we have to win as I want to get off to a good start," said Wane
"But I'm sure Paul will say the same thing. We had a good win away at Huddersfield this year but I think that means nothing coming into this game. They're a good defensive team.
"Thursday's game is going to be like a Grand Final."
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson is expecting a physical encounter and has made two changes with Scott Grix and Joe Wardle returning in place of Jodie Broughton and Nathan Mason.
“It’s a good game and it’s a good opportunity,” said Anderson on the official Giants website.
“We’ve got to go there with a good mentality and be physical, because that’s what Wigan will be at home. I know Shaun Wane quite well and he’ll be pumping them up, so we’ve got to make sure we match, if not better that physicality.
“It doesn’t matter when you play them. When you finish in this top eight you’ve got to play everyone who is above and below you and has fought hard all year to be in the top 8.
"Our mentality is always to win every week, regardless of when we play each team. We’ve got to make sure we do the right things for the Giants and keep building the momentum we’ve had.”
Wigan: John Bateman, Matty Bowen, Joe Burgess, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Dom Manfredi, Michael McIlorum, Lee Mossop, Sean O’Loughlin, Larne Patrick, Sam Powell, Matty Smith, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins and George Williams.
Huddersfield: Scott Grix, Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Joe Wardle, Aaron Murphy, Danny Brough, Luke Robinson, Eorl Crabtree, Craig Huby, Jack Hughes, Chris Bailey, Michael Lawrence, Craig Kopczak, Ukuma Ta’ai, Jamie Ellis, Kruise Leeming, Oliver Roberts, Jared Simpson, Daniel Smith.
