The annual rugby league jamboree that is Magic Weekend returns to Newcastle over the next two days as all 12 Betfred Super League teams go into action at St James' Park in one of the highlights of the season.
Saturday's schedule includes three fascinating contests, so here is everything you need to know about Day 1 of this year's event.
Salford Red Devils v Hull Kingston Rovers
Where: St James' Park, Newcastle.
When: 1:30pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Main Event
Salford's last five: Won 29-22 v Hull FC (Rd 13), Lost 12-26 @ St Helens (Rd 12), Won 22-12 @ Leeds (Rd 11), Won 16-14 v Catalans (Rd 10), Won 14-6 v Castleford (Rd 9)
Hull KR's last five: Lost 22-26 v Wigan (Rd 13), Lost 14-21 @ Warrington (Rd 12), Won 28-0 v Huddersfield (Rd 11), Won 12-7 @ Castleford (Rd 10), Won 26-14 v St Helens (Rd 9)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Salford 6/4, Hull KR 4/7, draw 18/1
First try scorer odds: Ryan Hall (Hull KR) 6/1, Ken Sio (Salford) 7/1, Rhys Williams (Salford) 9/1, Joe Burgess (Salford) 9/1, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Hull KR) 10/1
Milestones:
With one more appearance, Adam Sidlow will reach the mark of 350 in his career. His Salford team-mate Marc Sneyd needs one more to get to 300, while he is four goals short of 1,000 in his career.
Previous meetings:
Round 2, 2023: Salford Red Devils 10, Hull Kingston Rovers 24
Round 14, 2022: Hull Kingston Rovers 43, Salford Red Devils 16
Round 5, 2022: Salford Red Devils 16, Hull Kingston Rovers 26
Round 9, 2021: Hull Kingston Rovers 40, Salford Red Devils 4
Round 16, 2020: Hull Kingston Rovers 24, Salford Red Devils 22
Total Super League meetings: 28 (Salford 10, Hull KR 17, one draw)
Salford continue to shine under Paul Rowley, with their 29-22 Round 13 win over Hull FC taking them to six victories in seven in all competitions. While there is sure to be a fair old battle yet for top-six spots, the Red Devils look as well set as anybody to stake a claim on a play-off position. They will want to gain revenge on Rovers after the first clash between these sides back in February, when Salford dominated the opening stages but caved in the second half to lose 24-10 at the AJ Bell.
Rovers have been on the wrong end of two tight encounters over the last couple of matches, losing out to leaders Warrington Wolves and second-placed Wigan Warriors, the latter in golden-point extra-time. Willie Peters remains without Jordan Abdull and Rowan Milnes heading to Newcastle, but the good news is that Lachlan Coote makes the trip after recovering from a hamstring tear.
Sportsman stat: Rovers won the only previous Magic Weekend meeting between these two, edging a 22-20 victory at Anfield in 2019 despite being outscored by four tries to three. Ryan Shaw's five goals were what tipped the balance.
Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons
Where: St James' Park, Newcastle.
When: 3:45pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Main Event
Wigan's last five: Won 26-22 @ Hull KR (Rd 13), Lost 18-40 v Leeds (Rd 12), Lost 10-14 @ Hull FC (Rd 11), Won 22-6 v Wakefield (Rd 10), Won 13-6 @ Warrington (Rd 9)
Catalans' last five: Won 36-6 v Wakefield (Rd 13), Won 46-22 @ Castleford (Rd 12), Won 24-12 v St Helens (Rd 11), Lost 14-16 @ Salford (Rd 10), Lost 14-26 @ Huddersfield (Rd 9)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Wigan 8/15, Catalans 13/8, draw 18/1
First try scorer odds: Bevan French (Wigan) 5/1, Tom Johnstone (Catalans) 6/1, Liam Marshall (Wigan) 6/1, Jai Field (Wigan) 7/1, Abbas Miski (Wigan) 8/1
Milestones:
Toby King is one appearance away from reaching 150 Super League games in his career.
Previous meetings:
Round 4, 2023: Wigan Warriors 10, Catalans Dragons 18
Round 27, 2022: Wigan Warriors 48, Catalans Dragons 4
Round 5, 2022: Catalans Dragons 28, Wigan Warriors 0
Round 25, 2021: Wigan Warriors 12, Catalans Dragons 8
Round 8, 2021: Catalans Dragons 48, Wigan Warriors 0
Total Super League meetings: 43 (Wigan 30, Catalans 12, one draw)
Wigan's recent wobble has been steadied somewhat with the Challenge Cup victory over Leeds Rhinos followed by their golden-point win at Hull KR last time out. Matt Peet will be looking for a continued upturn at Newcastle against a Catalans side who made the most of a lethargic Warriors performance in Round 4 to win 18-10 at the DW Stadium.
Catalans have won three straight following their own disappointing run of defeats, and Steve McNamara can call upon the returning Sam Tomkins and Mitchell Pearce as part of his 21-man selection. The Dragons are back in the top three and know that a victory could take them to the summit of the Betfred Super League table for at least 24 hours.
Sportsman stat: A win by nine clear points would take Wigan back to the top of the league, while a 14-point Catalans victory margin would see the French side leapfrog Warrington into first place.
Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers
Where: St James' Park, Newcastle.
When: 6pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Main Event
Leeds' last five: Lost 12-13 v St Helens (Rd 13), Won 40-18 @ Wigan (Rd 12), Lost 12-22 v Salford (Rd 11), Lost 6-20 @ Leigh (Rd 10), Won 34-10 v Hull FC (Rd 9)
Castleford's last five: Lost 4-20 @ Huddersfield (Rd 13), Lost 22-46 v Catalans (Rd 12), Lost 6-30 @ Leigh (Rd 11), Lost 7-12 v Hull KR (Rd 10), Lost 6-14 @ Salford (Rd 9)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Leeds 4/11, Castleford 9/4, draw 20/1
First try scorer odds: Ash Handley (Leeds) 5/1, Derrell Olpherts (Leeds) 7/1, Liam Tindall (Leeds) 8/1, Bureta Faraimo (Castleford) 9/1, Nene Macdonald (Leeds) 9/1
Milestones:
Joe Westerman is one appearance away from 400 in his career.
Previous meetings:
Round 5, 2023: Castleford Tigers 14, Leeds Rhinos 8
Round 27, 2022: Leeds Rhinos 14, Castleford Tigers 8
Round 18, 2022: Castleford Tigers 20, Leeds Rhinos 34
Round 9, 2022: Castleford Tigers 16, Leeds Rhinos 14
Round 18, 2021: Leeds Rhinos 18, Castleford Tigers 32
Total Super League meetings: 66 (Leeds 36, Castleford 27, three draws)
Leeds will be looking to pick up the pieces after their epic 13-12 golden-point extra-time defeat to St Helens last week, but at least they have James McDonnell available after his initial two-match ban was overturned on appeal. Rohan Smith cannot call upon Aidan Sezer, Morgan Gannon or Harry Newman after all three were forced off early on at Headingley last Friday.
Cas are desperate for a win after their Round 12 loss at Huddersfield Giants left them six points adrift of 10th and just four ahead of pointless Wakefield Trinity. Andy Last's side have now suffered six straight defeats, and while they have been competitive in many of those games they are currently on course to turn in a worse attacking tally than has previously been recorded in the Super League era.
Sportsman stat: This is the fourth Magic Weekend meeting between these two clubs, with Cas winning two of the previous three encounters.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
