SL preview: Salford v Catalan (Fri)

Catalan Dragons will be looking to put their Tetley’s Challenge Cup disappointment behind them against Salford City Reds in Super League action on Friday night.

The French club, who sit fifth in the standings, bowed out of the prestigious competition last Saturday with a 24-13 defeat to Hull FC on home soil.

The City Reds had last weekend off and head coach Brian Noble will be hoping his team can secure just their sixth league victory in their 22nd match of the campaign.

Noble has not made any changes to the squad that conceded 22 second-half points last time out in a 28-18 loss at Hull KR.

The Reds are looking for a first win at the Salford City Stadium since they beat Widnes at the end of May.

Dragons boss Laurent Frayssinous has made changes with William Barthau, Elliott Whitehead, Mathias Pala and Thibaut Margalet coming in contention.

Brent Webb, Olivier Elima, Louis Anderson andJason Baitieri remain sidelined, while Julian Bousquet is suspended.

Leon Pryce, Damien Blanch, Mickael Simon and Jamal Fakir have all dropped out of Catalan’s 19-man squad

Salford 19-man squad: Broughton, Gibson, Gleeson, Gaskell, D. Williams, Ashurst, Dixon, Wild, Godwin, McPherson, James, Neal, Fages, Sneyd, McGoldrick, Griffin, Jewitt, A. Walne, Emmitt.

Catalan 19-man squad: Taia, Bosc, Dureau, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Mounis, Barthau, Maria, Pelissier, Larroyer, Millard, Pala, Paea, Duport, Vaccari, Escare, Margalet, Whitehead.

Prediction: Catalan will want to hit back after their disappointing Challenge Cup exit. Away win.

Stats:

Last meeting – Catalan 40, Salford 6 (SLR2, 9/2/13)

Super League summary:

Salford won 6

Catalan Dragons won 8

Salford highest score: 34-30 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 16-0, H, 2006)

Catalan Dragons highest score: 66-6 (H, 2007) (also widest margin)