Salford boosted after poor run by return of O’Brien and Dobson
SALFORD will have both Gareth O’Brien and captain Michael Dobson available as they look to bounce back from last week’s finalsecond defeat to St Helens when Huddersfield arrive at the AJ Bell Stadium tomorrow.
The pair missed the heartbreaking loss away at Saints, but are included in Ian Watson’s 19-man squad this weekend.
It is expected that O’Brien will return at full-back, which would mean a switch back to his less preferred position on the wing for Niall Evalds, who signed a new contract with the club earlier this week.
The Red Devils come into the game on a run of three successive Super League defeats, while Huddersfield have lost just one of their last six.
Jake Mamo has been the star performer for the Giants in recent weeks, leading the side’s resurgence with 12 tries in nine matches, but misses out through injury. Halfback Martin Ridyard, on loan from Leigh Centurions, has also been ruled out, so Lee Gaskell is likely to switch to scrum-half.
Meanwhile in the Championship, SWINTON Lions travel to Sheffield tomorrow, boosted by the 13-12 win over fifth-placed Halifax last time out.
“The lads were magnificent,” said coach John Duffy. “Especially off the back of the midweek game at Featherstone, which was really tough for us.”
Victory saw the Lions leapfrog Oldham and move into ninth, but Duffy is aware his side are far from safe as the battle to avoid relegation hots up.
“Every game is a must win now, we play the teams around us in the next few weeks and with no disrespect to them, hopefully we can pick up some points and try and go into these last seven games with some confidence,” he said.
OLDHAM will be looking for their first win in eight when Toulouse arrive at Bower Fold, but Scott Naylor expects his side to rise to the challenge this weekend.
“We don’t need to be told that Toulouse are in the top four and they’re full-time professionals,” said Naylor. “I’m more interested in their last two results – beaten 36-16 at home by London and rammed 34-22 last Sunday at Dewsbury. That’s where our focus has to lie. If Dewsbury can do it, so can we.”
ROCHDALE have the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack when they take on 11th-placed Dewsbury.
Hornets currently sit in eighth, but have both Oldham and Swinton breathing down their necks.