Huddersfield can keep in touch with high-flying Castleford

Betfred Super League
Sky Sports 3, 8pm Thursday

Castleford have been the talk of the town in the first half of the Betfred Super League season after producing a succession of high- octane, high-scoring performances.

Daryl Powell's entertainers have racked up 79 tries and 450 points in a dozen matches.

The table-topping Tigers are 2-1 favourites to win the Grand Final after routing champions Wigan 54-4 last weekend.

The Warriors were the latest side to be sent packing from the Mend-A-Hose Jungle this year with Cas boasting six straight home wins having outscored their opponents by an aggregate of 301 to 96.

The run includes a 52-16 hiding of tonight's opponents Huddersfield but it may be worth backing the Giants to get considerably closer to the Tigers this time.

Cas haven't been anything like as prolific on the road having won just three out of six, posting 149 points in the process to 97 by their opponents.

Coach Powell is without four key players for this game. Ben Roberts is injured and Mike McMeeken, Zak Hardaker and Luke Gale are all on England duty.

Gale, Super League's top points scorer, scored a hat-trick of tries and kicked six goals in the March mauling of the Giants.

Huddersfield are missing England winger Jermaine McGillvary, who is their top tryscorer, but boss Rick Stone can welcome back forwards Nathan Mason and Sam Rapira from injury.

It has been a disappointing season for the tenth-placed Giants, who ended a nine-game winless run with a 31-12 success at Leeds a week ago.

That victory should restore some confidence in the Huddersfield camp after the humiliation of their Ladbrokes Challenge Cup exit at the hands of Championship strugglers Swinton in their previous outing.

The hosts are 3-1 to topple the Tigers and while that may be too much to ask, backing the underdogs to stay within a 14-point handicap looks a fair bet.

Recommendation
Huddersfield +14
2pts 10-11 Hills