Salford Red Devils vs Huddersfield Giants Prediction: Visitors to edge tight affair

Crisis club Salford remain under special measures as they host their second home game of the Betfred Super League season against a Huddersfield side also still seeking its first win. (Kick-off 20:00)

This meeting of the only two sides yet to pick up a Super League point may not be one for the purists, but is of huge importance even this early on in the season. Read on for my Salford Red Devils vs Huddersfield Giants prediction.

Rugby League Odds

Team News

Once again Salford fail to name a full 21-man squad, with head coach Paul Rowley putting forward 18 names for the visit of Luke Robinson's Giants.

Superstar scrum-half Marc Sneyd left last week to sign for Warrington in a hammer blow for the Red Devils, and star centres Tim Lafai and Nene Macdonald both remain absent as speculation over their futures intensifies. I am told Lafai is likely to fly home Down Under, while Macdonald has received a number of offers from Super League clubs.

Salford's slender squad also sees key utility player Chris Hankinson drop out through injury - he is another name being linked with a move. Youngster Charlie McCurrie also drops out, so into the squad come Joe Shorrocks after suspension and Matty Foster, with Nathan Connell also included.

Huddersfield have new signing Niall Evalds in their squad after the full-back's loan move from Hull KR this week, with Elliot Wallis the player making way.

Tom Burgess, Jacob Gagai, Adam Clune and Zac Woolford are all out.

Salford Red Devils vs Huddersfield Giants Odds

Handicap 2-way: Huddersfield -1.5 @ 4/9

This is a difficult game to call, not least because of Salford's predicament, but also because of the complete absence of any form from either side.

It is one of the crazy stats of this season so far that Huddersfield have lost every match despite having led at half-time. That might be worth looking at in the half-time / full-time market.

I would normally confidently back Salford in this fixture 10 times out of 10. But they are impossible to back right now, more so after the departure of talisman Sneyd. The Red Devils have scored only 20 points in the first four Super League games and conceded 178.

I would like to think this could be a big night for the home side to record a heroic against-the-odds win. But I still remain short of the confidence needed to see that one through.

I am confident that both these sides are better than their league positions. And I fancy this to be tight. But I'm going for Huddersfield, rather than Salford, to come away with their first win.

Jake Bibby anytime tryscorer @ 7/4

There is some decent value in the try scorer market this week, with Hudderfield the team worth looking at. Adam Swift remains the Giants' most likely marksman and is available at 10/11 to run in a try, with likely Salford wingers Deon Cross and Ethan Ryan both available at the same price.

But I'm looking elsewhere in the outside backs, with Jake Bibby my choice at 7/4.

Rugby League Betting Tips from Betfred Insights