Wind the clock back to a year ago and this fixture may well have been a foregone conclusion. However, given both clubs’ starts to the season, that is far from true. St Helens overcame Toronto last weekend, 32-0, to secure their third win in four games.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield had their unbeaten run ended at the weekend by Wigan, going down 42-10 after winning their opening three games. Those results left Saints in third and the Giants in fifth, but with both sides on the same points.

Team changes

Kristian Woolf has recalled star fullback Lachlan Coote to his Saints squad after missing the last month with a knee injury. Promising young centre Josh Simm is also included as Aaron Smith (banned) and James Bentley (ankle injury) drop out. The Saints’ 21-man squad in full: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Regan Grace, Jonny Lomax, Theo Fages, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Luke Thompson, Zeb Taia, Dom Peyroux, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, Kyle Amor, Jack Ashworth, Joseph Paulo, Matty Costello, Jack Welsby, Josh Simm, Lewis Dodd.

Huddersfield boss Simon Woolford welcomes back Darnell McIntosh following injury as Sam Hewitt and Jon Luke Kirby are also drafted in. Suaia Matagi is suspended, whilst Matty English and Oliver Russell drop out. The 21-man Giants squad in full: Jermaine McGillvary, Jake Wardle, Jordan Turner, Darnell McIntosh, Lee Gaskell, Aidan Sezer, James Gavet , Adam O’Brien, Kenny Edwards, Joe Wardle, Michael Lawrence, Oliver Wilson, Aaron Murphy, Ukuma Ta’ai, Paul Clough, Tom Holmes, Oliver Russell, Innes Senior, Sam Hewitt, Sam Wood, Jon Luke Kirby.

Last time they met

Saints triumphed 48-6 in the last fixture between the two clubs back in September 2019, a victory which made it seven wins from eight games against the Giants.

ERL prediction

Though Huddersfield were dismal at best against Wigan, the West Yorkshire side still caused the Warriors problems until captain Aidan Sezer’s sin-binning just before half-time. The Giants will take it to St Helen’s, but home advantage should be the difference.

St Helens for the win.

If we had to pick a Line

Huddersfield Giants +15.5