The spotlight will be on Rangi Chase this Sunday at the AJ Bell Stadium, with the England international set to make a spectacular return from injury against his former club.
Chase has been absent since the first week of the season, when he picked up a leg injury that has seen him ruled out of the Devils’ last four games. However, he – and Francis Meli – are returning for Brian Noble this weekend, after being included in his 19-man squad to face the Tigers.
Daryl Powell’s unbeaten Castleford have made just one change to their squad for the clash, with the suspended Jordan Tansey dropping out. Luke Dorn – who scored that last-gasp try against Wigan two weeks ago, comes in, and will likely go straight back in at full-back. On-loan half-back Marc Sneyd will go up against his parent club for Cas, after Salford granted permission for him to play as part of the loan deal.
The Squads
Salford Red Devils: Ashurst, Dixon, Fages, Sa’u, Hansen, A. Walne, Gleeson, Chase, Johnson, Lee, Puletua, Morley, Mullaney, McPherson, J. Walne, Smith, Tasi, Howarth, Meli.
Castleford Tigers: Shenton, Webster, Carney, Dorn, Sneyd, Lynch, Milner, Huby, Millington, Hauraki, Massey, Clark, Holmes, Mariano, Ellis, Owen, Channing, Fleming, Finn.
The Stats
Michael Shenton needs one try to reach a century for Castleford. Shenton has touched down 99 times in 185 games for the Tigers (2004-2010 & 2013-2014).
Francis Meli needs just eight points to reach a total of 500 in England, having scored 488 for St Helens, and four for his current club, Salford.
The Prediction
The return of Rangi Chase will be an absolutely colossal boost for the Red Devils, who are becoming in desperate need of a victory. And Chase’s return, combined with home advantage, will see the Tigers’ first loss of 2014 inflicted upon them.
