Salford should keep tabs on visitors

Salford v Warrington
Sky Sports Arena, 3.15pm Saturday
Catalans v Wigan
Sky Sports Arena, 5.15pm Saturday

After a spluttering start to the Betfred Super League season, Warrington have surged into third spot on the league ladder and the Wolves are 4-11 to make it five wins on the spin as they head to Salford.

The question is: have bookmakers got carried away by the victories over Catalans, Wakefield, Widnes and Castleford?

The first three teams are all in the bottom six and the Easter Monday win over the Tigers came in a match reduced to a near lottery by a waterlogged and barely playable pitch.

The Red Devils' sole priority this year is to avoid a bottom-four finish and that survival bid is being based on a strong home record.

After losing to Wigan in the opening round, Ian Watson’s men have beaten Catalans, Hull KR and Hull FC at the AJ Bell Stadium.

They defeated the Wolves 24-14 in the corresponding fixture last year and, with a ten-point buffer on the handicap, the hosts look good business.

Salford centre Junior Sa’u has had a lean tryscoring season but his stats against Warrington are remarkable and he looks outstanding value to add to his tally of eight tries in the last five meetings between the teams. The 20-1 against Sa’u opening the scoring is worth punting too.

Wigan should have far too much firepower for rock-bottom Catalans in France.

The Dragons beat a badly understrength Huddersfield last time out but this fixture is a step up in class.

Wigan’s only defeats this season have come at Warrington, just days after jetting back from a jaunt to Australia, and at leaders St Helens. Shaun Wane’s men ought to cover the ten-point handicap with something to spare.

The Warriors won the cross-Channel contest 32-10 last season and something similar can be anticipated.

Sam Tomkins, who touched down in that victory, is rumoured to be joining Catalans next season and is 11-8 to get on the scoresheet.

Strugglers Hull KR and Widnes meet in a crucial clash at Craven Park. Rovers have key men Danny McGuire and Shaun Lunt returning and the layers look spot on in making the Robins four-point favourites with ground advantage.

Recommendations
Salford +10
3pts Evs Betfred, Betway
J Sa’u to score a try
1pt 5-2 general
J Sa’u to score first try
0.5pt 20-1 Coral, Ladbrokes
Wigan -10
6pts Evs general

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