Tonight we see a huge clash between Super League and World Champions St Helens and the league leaders the Warrington Wolves – in short two teams many believes to be in and around the Grand Final at the end of the year.
But what makes things more interesting is the fact the two come into the game after defeat.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Kick-off time and TV Channel
The game kicks off at 20:00.
Sky Sports’ coverage starts at 19:30.
Team News
St Helens have been struggling with injuries in their pack of late with but they’ve received a major boost ahead of Thursday night.
The reigning champions are set to face the current leaders, Warrington Wolves, and with both sides coming off a loss and the international break upcoming the game is of huge importance.
Saints haven’t just lost their last game, like Warrington, but they’ve lost their last two falling to Hull KR and to Wigan.
That’s seen them slip to eighth, albeit it with a game in hand, but a win could propel them as high as fifth.
Paul Wellens has made only one change to his squad that lost to Hull KR and that’s an enforced one with Jake Wingfield having failed a HIA and therefore unable to play.
The positive news though is that they’re able to replace him with the returning Joe Batchelor who will play in Super League for the first time in 2023.
The England international picked up an ankle injury during St Helens’ involvement in the NRL’s pre-season challenge and has therefore been out since February,
He’s a huge boost to a pack that has seen Alex Walmsley, Ignatius Paasi, Curtis Sironen and others all suffer injuries.
Mark Percival could be set to appear in the second-row for the second game in a row as well but the matchday squad will likely remain very similar to the one that lost at KR.
As for Warrington, Paul Vaughan was hit with a one match suspension for dangerous contact in a tackle against Wigan and will therefore not feature, adding more worries to Warrington’s pack concerns.
Wire have been without James Harrison whilst Thomas Mikaele has returned to the NRL leaving them short on forwards.
That’s not dissimilar to the situation their opponents find themselves in with Saints also down on their luck with injuries to forwards, albeit the champions do have James Batchelor set to return for Thursday.
As for Daryl Powell the changes he’s made see James Harrison return whilst Josh Lynch is also added.
Our 21-man squad making the trip to Saints this Thursday đź’Ş
W/ @CheshireMould pic.twitter.com/9AHVDGSLi5
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) April 18, 2023
That means the suspended Vaughan and young Jamie Reddecliff are the two absentees from the 21-man squad selected to play against Wigan last week.
The return of Harrison couldn’t have come at a better time given Vaughan’s suspension, something that presumably the Wire won’t challenge given he hasn’t been selected in their squad.
