Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos Prediction: Visitors can record a big victory

Huddersfield's season may be over but Leeds Rhinos have high hopes for the next month or so as Brad Arthur's in-form side head to play the Giants on a threatening run at the top of the Betfred Super League (20:00 BST, Sky Sports+)

Leeds sit third, just two points behind Wigan and still have to play the champions - could Arthur's men be emerging as genuine title contenders?

Team News

Leeds are a team bang in-form, fresh from a 34-0 win at Hull FC that has really fuelled their playoff charge. Huddersfield's 48-2 hammering at Wakefield was hardly the warm-up they would have wanted for this one.

The Rhinos handed Joe Shorrocks a debut off the bench last week but he has been immediately banned for two matches after passing the disciplinary points threshold.

Also missing out this week is young centre Max Simpson - starting in place of absent captain Ash Handley in Hull - who was stretchered off and must now observe concussion protocols.

Still missing is prop Keenan Palasia, so three new faces this week are young outside back Riley Lumb, forward Ned McCormack and academy star Zak Lloyd.

Huddersfield have half-back Oliver Russell back after he was unable to play against his former club last week in defeat at Wakefield. Taane Milne is banned, while other key absentees are Matty English, Oliver Wilson, and captain Leroy Cudjoe.

Aidan McGowan returns to the squad while there are also call-ups for youngsters Jacob Algar and Archie Sykes.

Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos Odds

The hosts are 17/2 to stun the Rhinos, while the visitors are the heavy 1/18 favourites. The draw is on offer at 25/1.

Handicap 3-way Leeds -22 @ 1/1

We were bang on last week in backing Leeds to win at Hull FC, despite it being a notoriously tricky trip for the Rhinos.

Not only did the blue and amber justify our 6/4 selection to beat the handicap, our left-field try scorer pick of forward Kallum Watkins at 11/4 also came through, on a good day for followers of this column.

I keep saying it and I will say it again, this has very quickly become a very, very good Leeds team. Tough to beat, defensively solid, very well coached, and with attacking stardust in Lachie Miller and Jake Connor. Wigan and Hull KR will definitely have been watching with interest.

So the Leeds bandwagon rolls into Huddersfield and despite it being a derby I would expect a fairly routine win. Leeds need momentum heading into the playoffs, and they will be targeting a top-two finish now, safe in the knowledge that a trip to face Wigan still lies ahead.

Anyone who has watched Leeds recently will be backing them here. I hope Huddersfield aren't as bad as they were last week and I don't think they will be.

But I still have Leeds to start well and lead from the front, to beat the 22-point handicap.

Leeds -15.5 & Ryan Hall to score a try @ 23/20

We were tempted by Kallum Watkins last week given his remarkable form since returning to Leeds, and those try scorer odds proved well-worth backing.

I'm tempted to look at Watkins again this week - even more so given the Max Simpson injury which could see him get some minutes at centre, but instead I'm looking at a double bet on a slightly lower handicap win, alongside a Ryan Hall anytime try.

The former England winger looks like he is out of his own dry spell, and has produced three tries in his last three games.

This game is the scene of one of Hall's most iconic Leeds tries when he won the League Leaders' Shield after the final hooter 10 years ago, and I would fancy more Hall points in a decent Leeds win here.

Click here for the latest Rugby League Odds

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights