Salford Red Devils have arguably been the Leigh Leopards' biggest dose of Kryptonite so far in the 2023 Betfred Super League season. The Leopards came into Round 19 in second spot in the table, yet they have twice lost home fixtures to Salford among just six defeats in total.
Here is everything you need to know about Sunday's revenge mission for the season's surprise outfit.
Salford Red Devils v Leigh Leopards
Where: AJ Bell Stadium, Eccles.
When: 3pm (BST)
TV: No UK screening
Salford's last five: Lost 14-16 v Leeds (Rd 18), Lost 6-32 @ Wakefield (Rd 17), Lost 6-26 v Wigan (Rd 16), Won 42-10 @ Castleford (Rd 15), Won 26-16 v Hull KR (Rd 14)
Leigh's last five: Won 34-16 @ Castleford (Rd 18), Won 34-4 v Hull KR (Rd 17), Lost 30-38 @ Catalans (Rd 16), Won 28-16 v Hull FC (Rd 15), Won 30-4 v Wakefield (Rd 14)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Salford 4/5, Leigh 11/10, draw 18/1
Handicap betting (Leigh +2.5): Salford 20/21, Leigh 4/5
Milestones:
Ken Sio needs two tries to reach 100 in Super League, while Joe Mellor is on 98 senior career tries.
Ollie Partington would have been in line for a 100th Super League appearance but misses the match due to a one-game ban picked up after the loss to Leeds Rhinos.
Previous meetings:
Round 8, 2023: Leigh Leopards 20, Salford Red Devils 22
Round 1, 2023: Leigh Leopards 10, Salford Red Devils 20
Round 20, 2021: Leigh Centurions 32, Salford Red Devils 22
Round 4, 2021: Salford Red Devils 34, Leigh Centurions 8
Round 23, 2017: Leigh Centurions 25, Salford Red Devils 0
Total Super League meetings: 10 (Salford 8, Leigh 2, no draws)
Paul Rowley's Salford desperately need to get back on the horse after three straight defeats at a time when they have had to shuffle the pack in key positions. They should be back up towards full strength this week, barring Ollie Partington's suspension, with Marc Sneyd, Ryan Brierley, Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft having all featured together in the 16-14 defeat to Leeds last time out in what was the first appearance of all four in the starting lineup for six weeks.
What can be said about Leigh Leopards' incredible form that hasn't already been covered? They are well on course to get a favourable draw in the play-offs, but in Salford they face one of only two teams they have failed to beat so far this season, with Catalans Dragons being the other. Victory at the AJ Bell would help to maintain a distance between the brilliant Leopards and the pack of teams looking to overhaul them for a bye to the semi-finals of the end-of-season deciders.
Sportsman stat: Leigh are hoping to claim a first away win against Salford in nearly 40 years, their last such victory coming at The Willows in the old Rugby League Championship on September 7, 1983.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
