SL Preview: Widnes v Huddersfield (Fri)

James Gordon

Widnes will go looking for their third win of the season when they welcome Huddersfield to the Halton Stadium on Friday night.

The Vikings welcome back co-captain Chris Houston from suspension, while Krisnan Inu and Chris Dean are expected to return having sat out last week’s defeat at Wigan, where they squandered a 16-0 lead to go down 32-16.

Huddersfield are without Jordan Turner, but do welcome back Michael Lawrence and Alex Mellor.

The Giants won both meetings between the two sides last season, including a 28-16 win on the opening day.

They have managed just one win so far this season, at home to Warrington, while Widnes have beaten Catalans and Leeds.

Stats:

Huddersfield’s Jermaine McGillvary has scored tries in the Giants’ last three meetings with Widnes (1-2-2).

Super League summary:

Widnes won 7
Huddersfield won 12
1 draw
Widnes highest score: 42-30 (H, 2003) (Widest margin: 40-12, H, 2005)
Huddersfield highest score: 66-6 (H, 2012) (also widest margin)

Widnes 19-man squad: Hanbury, Marsh, Inu, Runciman, Mellor, Gilmore, Houston, Whitley, Cahill, Dean, Craven, Olbison, Wilde, Burke, Johnstone, Chamberlain, J Chapelhow, Heremaia, Albert.

Huddersfield 19-man squad: Mamo, McGillvary, Murphy, Gaskell, Brough, Ikahihifo, Leeming, Lawrence, Hinchcliffe, Ferguson, Rankin, Roberts, Ta’ai, Clough, O’Brien, Mellor, McIntosh, Dickinson, Wood.