OVER 8,000 supporters are due at the Accu Stadium on Saturday when Huddersfield Giants host Catalans Dragons.
A resurgent Giants – looking for a third straight win – are set to reveal where they will play their home games in 2027 in an announcement at half-time.
Regardless of the result, Huddersfield will continue to prop up the division due to their inferior points difference, though could move level on points with closest rivals Hull FC.
The returns of Sam Halsall, Adam Clune and Tristan Powell are timely for boss Jim Lenihan, who makes five changes to his 21-man squad from the win over Hull.
Niall Evalds is recalled after completing his concussion protocols, whilst young second-rower Archie Sykes is also included.
They replace Matty English (who suffered an ACL injury just days into a loan with York Knights), Jack Billington, Marshall Land, Matty Hanley and Chris Patolo, likely to miss the remainder of the campaign with a fractured arm.
Catalans boss John Cartwright, who is set to hand centre Nick Cotric his 200th career appearance, makes two changes from the defeat to Wakefield Trinity.
Hooker Alrix Da Costa makes his long-awaited return from a calf injury suffered minutes into March’s clash with Hull, whilst Edenn Rogers-Smith has also been given the green light from the club’s medical team.
Chris Satae and the suspended Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet drop out.
SQUADS
Giants: 1 Niall Evalds, 3 Jacob Gagai, 5 Sam Halsall, 6 Tui Lolohea, 7 Adam Clune, 9 Zac Woolford, 12 Sam Hewitt, 13 Harry Rushton, 14 Fenton Rogers, 16 George King, 17 Joe Greenwood, 18 Kieran Rush, 20 Mathieu Cozza, 21 George Flanagan, 26 Archie Sykes, 29 Tanguy Zenon, 34 Connor Wrench, 40 Cole Geyer, 42 Lewis Jagger, 43 Zane Dunford.
Ins: 1 Niall Evalds, 5 Sam Halsall, 7 Adam Clune, 8 Tristan Powell, 26 Archie Sykes,
Outs: 15 Matty English, 22 Jack Billington, 23 Chris Patolo, 27 Marshall Land, Matty Hanley.
Dragons: 1 Charlie Staines, 2 Tommy Makinson, 3 Nick Cotric, 6 Toby Sexton, 7 Lewis Dodd, 9 Alrix Da Costa, 10 Julian Bousquet, 11 Franck Maria, 12 Ben Condon, 13 Benjamin Garcia, 16 Josh Allen, 19 Kruise Leeming, 20 Zac Lipowicz, 21 Mathieu Laguerre, 26 Ugo Tison, 27 Clément Martin, 28 Léo Darrélatour, 29 Giovanni Descalzi, 30 Alexis Lis, 33 Edenn Rogers-Smith, 34 Hugo Cellier.
Ins: 9 Alrix Da Costa, 33 Edenn Rogers-Smith
Outs: 8 Chris Satae, 24 Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet
Referee: Tara Jones
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Catalans Dragons 26, Huddersfield 10 (SLR1, 13/2/26)
Huddersfield 18, Catalans Dragons 6 (SLR21, 9/8/25)
Catalans Dragons 32, Huddersfield 0 (SLR16, 28/6/25)
Huddersfield 18, Catalans Dragons 38 (SLR7, 13/4/25)
Huddersfield 22, Catalans Dragons 23 (SLR21, 9/8/24)
Catalans Dragons 22, Huddersfield 18 (SLR15, 22/6/24)
Catalans Dragons 6, Huddersfield 34 (CCQF, 13/4/24)
Catalans Dragons 14, Huddersfield 22 (SLR18, 8/7/23)
Huddersfield 26, Catalans Dragons 14 (SLR9, 14/4/23)
Catalans Dragons 13, Huddersfield 12 (SLR20, 23/7/22)
Super League summary
Huddersfield won 26
Catalans Dragons won 24 (includes wins in 2009 and 2014 play-offs)
1 draw
Huddersfield highest score: 60-16 (H, 2013) (Widest margin: 60-16, H, 2013; 56-12, A, 2017)
Catalans Dragons highest score: 50-12 (A, 2021) (Widest margin: 48-0, H, 2008)
NICK COTRIC needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career.
– 45 for Catalans Dragons (2025-2026)
– 135 for Canberra Raiders (2017-2020, 2022-2024)
– 14 for Canterbury Bulldogs (2021)
– 2 for Serbia (2024)
– 2 for Australia (2019)
– 1 for New South Wales (2019)