Salford Red Devils will host Widnes Vikings tonight at the AJ Bell Stadium (8.00pm) with the winner being rewarded by going fourth in the Super League table for at least 24 hours.
The Red Devils and Vikings, currently lying eighth and fifth respectively, both have five points from their opening six matches in this season’s competition, and the winner of tonight’s game will move ahead of Huddersfield Giants, who currently lie in fourth place with six points.
Salford are without halfback Theo Fages, who starts a two-match ban for foul play in their round 6 defeat by Castleford.
Hooker Liam Hood is selected in their 19-man squad, while fullback Kevin Locke is also selected for a possible return to action, alongside backrower Cory Paterson and centre Mason Caton-Brown. Jordan Walne is absent from the squad after suffering an eye injury last week, while Carl Forster, who joined the Red Devils from St Helens in the close season, is selected, although there is no place for Jason Walton.
The Vikings have some significant injury absentees. Second-rowers Danny Tickle (groin) and Danny Galea (concussion) are both unavailable, as is winger Patrick Ah Van (concussion), but Danny Craven, Chris Dean and Eamon O’Carroll all return to their 19-man squad after injuries.
The 19-man squads are as follows.
Salford Red Devils (from): Caton-Brown, Chase, Dobson, Evalds, Forster, D Griffin, J Griffin, Hansen, Hauraki, Hood, Johnson, Jones-Bishop, Lee, Locke, Morley, Paterson, Sa’u, Tasi, Taylor.
Widnes Vikings (from): Clarkson, Craven, Dean, Dudson, Flynn, Gerrard, Gore, Hanbury, Heremaia, Hulme, Joseph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Manuokafoa, Marsh, Mellor, O’Carroll, Owens, Phelps.
