Super 8s Preview: Salford v Wakefield (Fri)

Wakefield could take a significant step towards the Super League play-offs with a win at Salford.

With nearest rivals Wigan and St Helens playing each, Trinity could put some distance between themselves and the three bottom clubs in the Super 8s as the race for the top four hots off.

They are boosted by the arrival of new signing Tyler Randell, who is in contention for his debut.

Joe Arundel makes a return from injury, while James Hasson could face his former club.

For Salford, they desperately need to get back to winning ways having lost all three of their Super 8s matches so far.

They started this phase of the season in the top four, but have been in freefall since.

Injuries are biting them at the wrong time of the year, and half-back Michael Dobson has played his last game for the club, suffering a thumb injury against Wigan that requires an operation.

He is the fifth player to be ruled out for the rest of the campaign, following Lee Mossop, Mark Flanagan, Lama Tasi and Connor Williams.

In a further blow, Ben Murdoch-Masila is still not available to return, and there is no place in Ian Watson’s 19-man squad for Niall Evalds.

There is some good news for Salford fans though – centres Kris Welham and Junior Sa’u are both available for selection.

Last ten meetings:

Salford 30, Wakefield 6 (CCQF, 15/6/17)
Salford 24, Wakefield 34 (SLR17, 4/6/17)
Wakefield 24, Salford 22 (SLR4, 12/3/17)
Salford 38, Wakefield 8 (SLR16, 27/5/16)
Wakefield 32, Salford 18 (SLR9, 2/4/16)
Salford 34, Wakefield 26 (S8-QR1, 9/8/15)
Wakefield 16, Salford 24 (SLR18, 14/6/15)
Salford 24, Wakefield 18 (SLR5, 15/3/15)
Wakefield 42, Salford 6 (SLR25, 31/8/14)
Salford 18, Wakefield 14 (SLR1, 16/2/14)

Super League summary

Salford won 15
Wakefield won 24
2 draws
Salford highest score: 48-10 (H, 2006) (also widest margin)
Wakefield highest score: 46-18 (H, 2004); 46-10 (A, 2013) (Widest margin: 46-10, A, 2013; 42-6, H, 2014)

Squads:

Salford: Bibby, Brining, Carney, Griffin, Hauraki, Johnson, Jones, Kopczak, Krasniqi, Lannon, Lui, McCarthy, O’Brien, Sa’u, Tomkins, Vatuvei, A Walne, J Walne, Welham.

Wakefield: Annakin, Arona, Arundel, Ashurst, Caton-Brown, England, Fifita, Finn, Grix, Hadley, Hasson, Hirst, Huby, Jones-Bishop, Kirmond, Lyne, Miller, Randell, Tupou.

Prediction:

Wakefield march on towards Old Trafford – Trinity by 10.