The Betfred Super League continues to deliver breathless entertainment, and Sunday's triumvirate of fixtures will wrap up another leg of the journey towards the play-offs ahead of next week's Betfred Challenge Cup final.
One of the two sides heading to Wembley has a big day ahead of them in front of the Sky cameras in Round 21, so here's everything you need to know about Sunday's action.
Hull FC v Wakefield Trinity
Where: MKM Stadium, Hull.
When: 3pm (BST)
TV: No UK screening
Hull FC's last five: Lost 12-19 @ Huddersfield (Rd 20), Won 36-18 v Castleford (Rd 19), Won 16-6 @ Hull KR (Rd 18), Lost 18-28 v Catalans (Rd 17), Won 34-6 v St Helens (Rd 16)
Wakefield's last five: Won 42-6 v Warrington (Rd 20), Lost 6-34 @ Huddersfield (Rd 19), Won 27-26 v Wigan (Rd 18), Won 32-6 v Salford (Rd 17), Lost 12-28 @ Hull KR (Rd 16)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull FC 4/11, Wakefield 23/10, draw 18/1
Handicap betting (Wakefield +8.5): Hull FC 10/11, Wakefield 5/6
Milestones:
With eight more points, Wakefield Trinity winger Tom Lineham will reach 500 in his Super League career. That tally includes 200 for Sunday's opponents, Hull FC.
Previous meetings:
Round 12, 2023: Wakefield Trinity 6, Hull FC 26
Round 24, 2022: Hull FC 18, Wakefield Trinity 26
Round 14, 2022: Wakefield Trinity 19, Hull FC 18
Round 1, 2022: Wakefield Trinity 12, Hull FC 16
Round 25, 2021: Wakefield Trinity 44, Hull FC 12
Total Super League meetings: 61 (Hull FC 43, Wakefield 17, one draw)
Defeat to Huddersfield Giants last week was a major blow for Hull FC as they look to make a late run for play-off rugby, but Friday's results opened a little window for them and if St Helens and Leigh Leopards both win on Sunday afternoon it could do them a huge favour. Tony Smith will be well aware of the opportunity his side still have in front of them.
Many are already looking at Round 22's massive West Yorkshire derby against Castleford Tigers as Wakefield's biggest fixture of the season but if they can come away from Hull with two points they could be making a massive stride towards one of the most unlikely survival stories in British sporting history.
Sportsman stat: While Wakefield have won their last four at home, their last home defeat came at the hands of Hull FC. They also haven't recorded an away victory since August 29, 2022.
Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Leopards
Where: Headingley Stadium, Leeds.
When: 3pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Action
Leeds' last five: Lost 18-22 @ St Helens (Rd 20), Lost 18-19 v Hull KR (Rd 19), Won 16-14 @ Salford (Rd 18), Won 22-6 @ Warrington (Rd 17), Won 54-0 v Huddersfield (Rd 16)
Leigh's last five: Lost 18-44 @ Wigan (Rd 20), Won 24-22 @ Salford (Rd 19), Won 34-16 @ Castleford (Rd 18), Won 34-4 v Hull KR (Rd 17), Lost 30-38 @ Catalans (Rd 16)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Leeds 1/6, Leigh 9/2, draw 22/1
Handicap betting (Leigh +14.5): Leeds 5/6, Leigh 10/11
Milestones:
If James Donaldson plays he will be making his 100th appearance for the Leeds Rhinos, while Justin Sangare is one game away from 100 in his career.
Leigh's Joe Wardle is one game shy of a career 250, and Joe Mellor will reach a century of tries with two more touchdowns.
Previous meetings:
Round 10, 2023: Leigh Leopards 20, Leeds Rhinos 6
Round 19, 2021: Leigh Centurions 10, Leeds Rhinos 46
Round 12, 2021: Leeds Rhinos 48, Leigh Centurions 18
Round 17, 2017: Leeds Rhinos 22, Leigh Centurions 14
Round 11, 2017: Leigh Centurions 14, Leeds Rhinos 17
Total Super League meetings: 8 (Leeds 7, Leigh 1, no draws)
Rohan Smith's Leeds Rhinos need to get back on the bike quickly if they are to get back into the sort of form which had many tipping them to repeat last year's trick of sneaking into the play-offs with a late-season run. However, they should be a shoo-in at Headingley on Sunday given the expected changes Leigh will make.
Having seen their first string turn in a limp performance last week at Wigan, Leigh are set to ring the changes in much the same way Hull Kingston Rovers did on Friday as the two sides prepare to meet in next week's Challenge Cup final at Wembley. The Leopards have built up a more than comfortable position in the top six before now, allowing them the luxury of turning over their squad.
Sportsman stat: Leeds' last home defeat to Leigh came in the Slalom Lager Championship on April 3, 1984.
Salford Red Devils v St Helens
Where: AJ Bell Stadium, Salford.
When: 3pm (BST)
TV: No UK screening
Salford's last five: Lost 0-42 @ Catalans (Rd 20), Lost 22-24 v Leigh (Rd 19), Lost 14-16 v Leeds (Rd 18), Lost 6-32 @ Wakefield (Rd 17), Lost 6-26 v Wigan (Rd 16)
St Helens' last five: Won 22-18 @ Leeds (Rd 20), Lost 12-14 v Catalans (Rd 19), Won 24-20 @ Warrington (Rd 18), Won 22-0 v Castleford (Rd 17), Lost 6-34 @ Hull FC (Rd 16)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Salford 17/10, St Helens 1/2, draw 18/1
Handicap betting (Salford +5.5): Salford 10/11, St Helens 5/6
Milestones:
Ken Sio is one try away from 100 in Super League, while Saints' Mark Percival is on the same number. The visitors' Konrad Hurrell has 99 in all competitions across club and international rugby league.
Previous meetings:
Round 12, 2023: St Helens 26, Salford Red Devils 12
Semi-Final, 2022: St Helens 19, Salford Red Devils 12
Round 21, 2022: Salford Red Devils 44, St Helens 12
Round 11, 2022: St Helens 14, Salford Red Devils 10
Round 25, 2021: Salford Red Devils 26, St Helens 14
Total Super League meetings: 56 (Salford 9, St Helens 47, no draws)
Six successive defeats have seen Salford Red Devils knocked out of the Betfred Challenge Cup and drop down the league dramatically. Having come into the weekend in seventh, they could really do with the morale boost of a win against the reigning champions heading into their two-week break. The questions being asked about the futures of their star players aren't helping, though.
St Helens could actually make some real headway in the coming weeks, with the trip to Salford preceding home fixtures against Huddersfield Giants and Hull Kingston Rovers then away fixtures against the bottom two, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield. And with nobody else in action next weekend when they host the Giants in their postponed Round 1 clash, there's the real possibility that they can start to make real progress on the teams above them.
Sportsman stat: Against no other team have St Helens played more than 50 Super League games and recorded less than 10 defeats, other than Salford. The Red Devils have won only nine of their 56 encounters.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
