Super League team news, statistics, KO times & odds

Castleford v Leeds

Date: Friday September 8
Kick-off time: 2000 BST
Venue: The Mend-A-Hose Jungle

Sky Bet odds: Castleford 1/4, Leeds 3/1

Second-placed Leeds can secure a home semi-final with two rounds to spare but only if they end a seven-match losing run at the hands of table-toppers Castleford.

Three of those defeats have come this year, including a 66-10 rout at the Jungle in March, but the Rhinos have put themselves within touching distance of a home semi with eight wins from their last 11 league games and coach Brian McDermott believes they can go on and win at Old Trafford.

"I think we've got a really good chance of getting there and winning for sure," he said. "But so have Cas.

"Cas are really good, Cas are scarily good. They've got that momentum behind them. I think they've got that winning habit so, even in games where they're struggling, they can pull some stuff out."

Castleford coach Daryl Powell has recalled England second rower Mike McMeeken for his 100th Super League appearance after resting him for the game at Huddersfield and says his squad depth will help avoid the danger of complacency during the run-in.

"We have a real competition for places now as our boys look towards the semi-final," Powell said. "The boys want to be in the team that plays in that match and, if that's not going to get the best out of people, then I'll be checking for pulses.

"We'll have no problem having a motivated team taking to the field for these last three Super 8s games.

"From now on in, I won't be making many changes. We have three games left now to get ourselves fine-tuned and toughened up."

Leeds coach Brian McDermott brings in half-back Jordan Lilley for the suspended Rob Burrow and will give stand-off Joel Moon every chance to recover from the groin injury that forced him to pull out of last week's game against Hull.

This season's league results: Castleford 66 Leeds 10, Leeds 18 Castleford 29, Leeds 12 Castleford 23.

Last six league matches: Castleford W W L W W W; Leeds L W W L W W.

Top try scorers: Greg Eden (Castleford) 36; Joel Moon (Leeds) 15.

Top goal scorers: Luke Gale (Castleford) 129; Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds) 46.

Referee: J Smith.

Hull v Wigan

Date: Friday September 8
Kick-off time: 2000 BST
Venue: The KCOM Stadium

Sky Bet odds: Hull 10/11, Wigan 10/11

Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin says his team are too focused on the league to worry about revenge when they meet Hull in a Wembley rematch.

The champions' 18-14 Challenge Cup final defeat is still fresh in the memory but O'Loughlin is concentrating on the future and his side's play-off semi-final prospects, which will go on the line at the KCOM Stadium on Friday night.

Wigan's thrilling derby win over St Helens last Friday kept their Grand Final hopes alive and they will climb into the top four for the first time since April with victory over Lee Radford's men.

That would amount to payback for their Wembley loss, not that O'Loughlin sees it that way.

"They deservedly won the game but, to be honest, I don't think you look at it too much like that," he said. "No matter who will play now, it's more about us winning that game to get to a Grand Final, not about getting one over on them for the Challenge Cup.

"We feel we have to win every game from now until the end of the season. We know mathematically that might not be the case but we think if we do that, we're going to be in a semi come the end of the season.

"Going to Hull any time, whatever the circumstances, is tough, but every week now will be like a final."

Hull, who have lost back-to-back Super 8s fixtures, have been dealt a further blow in their pursuit of the double with the loss of skipper Gareth Ellis to suspension.

"It's a loss for them," O'Loughlin said. "Gaz is a quality player who has a big impact on what they do and he had a top game against us in the Challenge Cup final.

"It's probably a bonus for us but they've got some boys who can come in and do a job for them."

Josh Griffin, Liam Watts and Mark Minichiello are back to take their places after sitting out the defeat at Leeds and prop Masi Matongo is also added to the squad. Winger Fetuli Talanoa hopes to recover from an arm injury to keep his spot.

Wigan winger Tom Davies, who has recovered from the ankle injury that forced him to miss the Challenge Cup final, and second rower Joel Tomkins, the only player left out of the Wembley squad, are both in contention to for the re-match. They replace Nick Gregson and Jack Wells in the 19-man squad.

This season's league results: Wigan 20 Hull 22, Hull 39 Wigan 26.

Last six league matches: Hull W L W W L L; Wigan W W L W W W.

Top try scorers: Albert Kelly (Hull) 18; Liam Marshall (Wigan) 21.

Top goal scorers: Marc Sneyd (Hull) 91; George Williams (Wigan) 37.

Referee: R Hicks.

Salford v Huddersfield

Date: Saturday September 9
Kick-off time: 1330 BST
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium

Sky Bet odds: Salford 11/8, Huddersfield 8/13

Salford coach Ian Watson is set to switch Gareth O'Brien into the halves in place of Todd Carney, with Niall Evalds returning at full-back, while brothers Jordan and Adam Walne are vying to take the place of forward George Griffin.

Huddersfield have lost captain Leroy Cudjoe to injury so Alex Mellor is set to move into the centres while second rower Dale Ferguson is expected to return to the pack after pulling out of last week's game against Castleford.

This season's league results: Huddersfield 20 Salford 30, Salford 36 Huddersfield 20.

Last six league matches: Salford L L L L Huddersfield W L W L W L.

Top try scorers: Ben Murdoch-Masila (Salford) 13; Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield) 18.

Top goal scorers: Michael Dobson (Salford) 44; Danny Brough (Huddersfield) 59.