Written by Rugby Football League
Super League’s ‘Rivals Round’ swings into action this week with huge fixtures across the weekend.
Two huge derby matches headline the weekend as St Helens travel Wigan on Friday night, 7.45pm kick off, while Hull FC host Hull KR on Saturday at 3pm.
Despite defeat at in-form Hull KR last time out, Wigan have ground out five wins from their last seven matches and will be keen to tighten their grip on fourth place with another win on Friday night.
Meanwhile the visitors have hit purple patch of late.
Krsitian Woolf’s Saints side won five in a row prior to a surprise defeat at the hands of Castleford Tigers last time out, a run which included ending Catalans‘ 12-game winning streak.
Saints have their own play-off hopes in 2021 and, boasting the league’s best defence, could be a tough nut to crack tomorrow night.
On Saturday, the first Hull derby with a crowd in well over a year takes place, with both sides having differing fortunes going into the tie.
Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow received a hero's welcome from fans as he returned to the Headingley pitch ahead of the game against Huddersfield 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/qGnSAL3pXn
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) August 19, 2021
Hosts FC are seventh in the table and have lost their last four league games in a row. They will be desperate for a win to keep their play-off hopes alive and the Hull derby could be the perfect place to mark a return to form.
Meanwhile Rovers have been in eye-catching form of late. After weeks of Covid-enforced disruption, they took on table-topping Catalans in back-to-back games, losing out by just two points and seven points respectively.
Since then, they showed their attacking flair to see off a dogged Leigh side 34-28 two weeks ago, ahead of a superb 26-14 win over Wigan last time out.
They are fifth in the table at present and will be hopeful of retaining their place firmly in the chase for a play-off place after this weekend.
Elsewhere in the Betfred Super League this week, a Headingley fixture between Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants takes place. Saturday night sees Castleford Tigers play at home to Wakefield Trinity, while there is a bottom-end clash on Sunday as Leigh Centurions tackle Salford Red Devils on home turf.
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