Both coaches have a welcome selection headache ahead of Castleford Tigers’ home derby with Leeds Rhinos on Saturday.
The two teams are each coming off a win and have no major new injury concerns, meaning Tigers’ Danny McGuire and his Rhinos rival Brad Arthur will both be leaving fit and available players out of their matchday 17.
McGuire has made only one change to his initial 21-man Tigers squad following last Sunday’s 48-16 hammering of Salford Red Devils, outside-back Andy Djeukessi being drafted in from the reserves – though the team boss confirmed he won’t play against Leeds.
Djeukessi replaces Papua New Guinea hooker Judah Rimbu, who was an unused squad member against Salford and featured in the reserves’ win at Bradford Bulls on Thursday.
Cain Robb, Dan Okoro and Hugo Salabio also remain in contention, but McGuire said there won’t be major changes to the line-up following his side’s third win of the campaign.
Rhinos are without only winger Maika Sivo – who won’t play this year – and hooker Andy Ackers from their top-20 squad numbers.
Like McGuire, Arthur has made one change to his 21, recalling Australian outside-back Ethan Clark-Wood in place of shoulder injury victim Alfie Edgell.
Clark-Wood has recovered from ankle damage and is expected to play in Leeds’ reserves at Wigan Warriors on Saturday, alongside out of favour half-back Matt Frawley.
Arthur has hinted at an unaltered side from last week’s dramatic 18-16 defeat of Hull FC, though if there is a change it is likely to see prop Cooper Jenkins recalled on the bench, in place of James Bentley.
Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos predicted teams
Castleford Tigers predicted 13: Tex Hoy, Josh Simm, Zac Cini, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Daejarn Asi, Rowan Milnes, Tom Amone, Liam Horne, George Lawler, Joe Westerman, Alex Mellor, Muizz Mustapha. Subs: Sam Hall, Louis Senior, Brad Singleton, Chris Atkin.
Leeds Rhinos predicted 13: Lachie Miller, Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Riley Lumb, Jake Connor, Brodie Croft , Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Keenan Palasia, James McDonnell, Morgan Gannon, Kallum Watkins. Subs Tom Holroyd, Sam Lisone, James Bentley, Cooper Jenkins.
