SL Preview: Catalan Dragons v Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers will be hoping to provide new head coach Daryl Powell with a win in his first game in charge when they face Catalan Dragons on Saturday afternoon.

Former Featherstone boss Powell replaced Ian Milward last week after the Australian was sacked for a poor start to the 2013 season. 

While they weren’t in Challenge Cup action last weekend, the Tigers did manage a win in their most recent outing, narrowly beating Hull KR 32-24. 

Catalan, who sit fifth in the Super League, ran out 92-8 winners against York in the cup on Sunday and will be looking to edge closer to the top four.

In the only change to the French side’s squad, Steve Menzies replaces scrum-half William Barthau while Scott Dereau, Brent Webb, Olivier Elima, Julian Bousquet, Lopini Paea, Jason Baitieri and Frederic Vaccari all miss out through injury.

Castleford will again be without long-term absentee Jake Webster as he continues his recover from a knee injury. In-form second rower Weller Hauraki also misses out after picking up a shoulder problem against Hull KR but the Tigers are boosted by the return to fitness of Australian forward Grant Millington. 

Catalan Dragons 19-man squad: Blanch, Pryce, Taia, Bosc, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Anderson, Mounis, Maria, Pelissier, Larroyer, Millard, Pala, Simon, Fakir, Duport, Baile, Escare.

Castleford Tigers 19-man squad: Owen, Carney, Shenton, Dixon, Chase, Ellis, Walker, Clark, Huby, Gilmour, Millington, Milner, Massey, Holmes, Thompson, Tansey, Martin, Mason, Boyle. 

Prediction: Catalan harbour serious top four aspirations and should have enough to beat Castleford  home win. 

Super League summary:

Catalan Dragons won 8

Castleford won 6

1 draw

Catalan Dragons highest score: 54-20 (H, 2011) (Widest margin: 51-14, H, 2006)

Castleford highest score: 34-28 (H, 2006), 34-18 (MM, 2010), 34-24 (H, 2011) (Widest margin: 34-18, MM, 2010)