Leeds Rhinos v Huddersfield Giants: Preview

Leeds Rhinos will be hoping to make it four wins on the bounce in all competitions when they take on the Huddersfield Giants on Thursday night.

The Rhinos followed up recent wins over Hull FC and Widnes with a comfortable fifth round Challenge Cup win over Doncaster at Headingley, with debutant Jack Walker scoring a hat-trick.

It was a different story for Huddersfield though, as they suffered a shock defeat to Championship side Swinton.

Luke Waterworth’s 76^th minute try helped secure a famous 28-24 victory for the part-time Lions as they booked their place in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup.

It means that Rick Stone’s side have only picked up two wins in all competitions this season, and with an injury-ravaged squad, things don’t get any easier for the Giants as they face a Leeds side who are currently joint-top of the Super League table.

Brian McDermott makes a number of changes to his 19-man squad for the visit of Huddersfield with recalls for Ashton Golding, Tom Briscoe, Matt Parcell, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Stevie Ward, Brett Delaney and Anthony Mullally.

All seven missed the win over Doncaster and their inclusion sees Jordan Lilley, Josh Walters, Jack Ormondroyd, Jordan Baldwinson and Sam Hallas all drop out, though the impressive Jack Walker and Mikolaj Oledzki do retain their places.

Jimmy Keinhorst (hand) and Carl Ablett (knee) remain on the sidelines while Brett Ferres serves the fifth match of his six-game ban.

Huddersfield are lacking considerable depth for this week’s West Yorkshire derby, with Lee Gaskell, Izaac Farrell, Sam Rapira, Nathan Mason and Tyler Dickinson all dropping out from their 19-man squad.

Leroy Cudjoe (knee), Ukuma Ta’ai (back) and Tom Symonds (knee) also remain out of action but the Giants do welcome back Danny Brough from suspension.

Jake Mamo, Jermaine McGillvary, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Paul Clough and Mikey Wood are also back in contention while Dale Ferguson has been given the nod to play again following a knock.

With a depleted squad and confidence running low, Huddersfield Giants will be desperate to get back to winning ways this week.

However, with the free-scoring form that Leeds are currently in, the Giants may have to wait a bit longer before that happens.

Leeds Rhinos Squad: Ashton Golding, Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Keith Galloway, Matt Parcell, Adam Cuthbertson, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Stevie Ward, Brett Delaney, Brad Singleton, Mitch Garbutt, Anthony Mullally, Ash Handley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jack Walker.

Huddersfield Giants Squad: Jake Mamo, Jermaine McGillvary, Aaron Murphy, Danny Brough, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Shannon Wakeman, Dale Ferguson, Kruise Leeming, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Oliver Roberts, Paul Clough, Dan Smith, Sam Wood, Darnell McIntosh, Jared Simpson, Mikey Wood, Matthew English, Alex Mellor, Adam O’Brien.

Prediction: Leeds Rhinos 32-16 Huddersfield Giants