Castleford v Huddersfield: Predicted line-ups and late injury news

Castleford meet Huddersfield in an eyebrow raising West Yorkshire derby. For Huddersfield it represents an opportunity to build on their confidence-boosting win over Hull FC. The Tigers meanwhile will be looking to get back on the horse after their Wembley heartbreak.

The Tigers will have to do so without a number of key players due to Covid-19 protocols. That’s forced Daryl Powell to look for solutions outside of the club. Jake Sweeting and Loui McConnell have been brought in on loan from Featherstone whilst Grand Final winner Jimmy Keinhorst could feature having joined on loan from Hull KR. He may even be asked to do a job on the wing although Powell may turn to 19-year-old Brad Graham instead and use the German in his natural position, centre. Sweeting meanwhile will likely start in the halves alongside Man of Steel Paul McShane with Cain Robb doing a job at hooker.

Huddersfield also have a strange looking squad due to their mounting injury problems. In general, Ian Watson won’t make too many changes to the side who beat Hull with youngsters Will Pryce and Oliver Russell in the halves whilst loanee Nathan Peats will remain at hooker. Unfortunately, Josh Jones won’t be available through suspension so the versatile Sam Wood may be brought into the second-row allowing James Cunningham to make his return to the bench.

Castleford
1 Niall Evalds
2 Derrell Olpherts
12 Cheyse Blair
4 Michael Shenton
38 Jimmy Keinhorst
39 Jake Sweeting
9 Paul McShane
22 Daniel Smith
32 Cain Robb
24 Suaia Matagi
17 Alex Foster
27 Lewis Peachey
14 Nathan Massey
Substitutes
26 Lewis Bienek
28 Brad Martin
29 Sam Hall
40 Loui McConnell

Huddersfield
1 Ashton Golding
2 Jermaine McGillvary
3 Jake Wardle
21 Leroy Cudjoe
24 Louis Senior
32 Will Pryce
23 Oliver Russell
8 Luke Yates
35 Nathan Peats
20 Oliver Wilson
17 Chris McQueen
27 Sam Wood
25 Owen Trout
Substitutes
19 James Cunningham
26 Sam Hewitt
33 Robson Stevens
34 Nathaniel Peteru