SL preview: Warrington v Huddersfield (Thu)

Richie Myler returns to the Warrington squad ahead of Thursday’s qualifying semi-final with Huddersfield.

Centre Rhys Evans is the unfortunate Wolves player to make way for Myler, who has been sidelined with injury since the beginning of August.

Fellow injury doubts Brett Hodgson and Trent Waterhouse also make it into the Warrington 19, for their third consecutive appearance at this stage of Super League competition.

League Leaders Huddersfield name an unchanged squad from the stunning 76-18 victory over Hull FC last week, and the Giants Man of the Match in that game, Luke Robinson, is confident of his side’s chances at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“All the hard work we did in pre-season – it’s all down to this,” he said.

“It’s knock-out rugby. We’ve beaten every side apart from Warrington – it’s a great time to end that record.”

Warrington 19-man squad: Atkins, C. Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Grix, Harrison, Higham, Hill, Hodgson, J. Monaghan, M. Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, C. Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Wood.

Huddersfield 19-man squad: Grix, Cudjoe, Wardle, McGillvary, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Kopczak, Ferres, Faiumu, Lawrence, Patrick, Chan, Ta’ai, Murphy, Ferguson, Blackmore, Wood.

Stats:

Warrington have won their last eight meetings with Huddersfield. The Giants’ last victory against the Wolves was a 29-10 home win on 8 April, 2011.

Huddersfield’s last win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium was a 34-22 Super League play-off success on 18 September, 2010. The Wolves have won their last five home games with the Giants since then.

Last 10 meetings:

Warrington 44, Huddersfield 24 (CCQF, 14/7/13)
Huddersfield 12, Warrington 34 (SLR14, 5/5/13)
Warrington 28, Huddersfield 2 (SLR8, 22/3/13)
Warrington 54, Huddersfield 6 (SLR26, 2/9/12)
Huddersfield 6, Warrington 33 (CCSF, 15/7/12 (at City of Salford Community Stadium)
Huddersfield 22, Warrington 32 (SLR3, 18/2/12)
Warrington 47, Huddersfield 0 (SLQPO, 16/9/11)
Warrington 28, Huddersfield 16 (SLR21, 8/7/11)
Huddersfield 29, Warrington 10 (SLR9, 8/4/11)
Huddersfield 28, Warrington 18 (SLR1, 12/2/11 (at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

Previous play-off meetings:

Warrington 47, Huddersfield 0 (SLQPO, 16/9/11)
Warrington 22, Huddersfield 34 (SLPSF, 18/9/10)

Super League summary:

Warrington won 26 (includes win in 2011 play-offs)

Huddersfield won 12 (includes win in 2010 play-offs)

Warrington highest score: 54-6 (H, 2012) (also widest margin)

Huddersfield highest score: 52-10 (H, 2001) (also widest margin)