Red Devils to pick up pace after bad start

Betfred Super League
Sky Sports 2, 8pm Thursday

Huddersfield finished rock bottom of Super League last season but the Giants will be standing tall at the top of the fledgling table if they avoid defeat against Salford at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Rick Stone’s side kicked off their campaign with a comfortable 28-16 success at Widnes and are hot favourites to make it two wins out of two.

The puzzle for punters is to work out what that form amounts to with the vanquished Vikings expected to land this year’s wooden spoon.

The Giants are set to field an unchanged side with the exception of injured forward Tom Symonds but it may pay not to get carried away by one-match form and Salford look the pick receiving an eight-point start on the handicap.

The Red Devils picked up eight more points than the Giants in last year’s regular season and Ian Watson’s team have won on their last two trips to Huddersfield.

All told, Salford have won five of the last seven meetings between the teams.

The Red Devils were slow out of the blocks in their opener at home to Wigan and were 26-0 behind at half-time against the champions.
They rallied to score 16 unanswered second-half points so can take some positives into this assignment.

They have no injury worries either and Salford should be backed to make the most of more than a converted try start.

Punters who play the tryscorer markets are likely to be drawn to the name of Jermaine McGillvary.

The Giants winger topped the try charts in 2015 and got off to a flyer by bagging a brace in the win at Widnes.

McGillvary notched in the home meeting with Salford last Easter and is 4-5 to repeat the feat. The England international is 15-2 to be the first name on the scoresheet.

Recommendations
Salford +8
2pts Evs bet365
J McGillvary to score a try
1pt 4-5 Betway