Leeds Rhinos vs Huddersfield Giants Prediction: 5/1 home win the value bet at Headingley

Leeds Rhinos are back at AMT Headingley after a disjointed performance in defeat at Wigan, but are big favourites to bounce back as they welcome the Betfred Super League's bottom side Huddersfield Giants on Friday night (8pm, Sky Sports+).

The Giants came close to an epic comeback at St Helens last weekend, but have still won just twice all season ahead of the daunting trip across West Yorkshire. My Leeds Rhinos vs Huddersfield Giants predictions follow, along with Betfred's match odds and the latest team news.

Leeds Rhinos vs Huddersfield Giants Odds

The Rhinos are huge favourites to win, at 1/18 with Betfred. Huddersfield are 17/2, with the draw in 80 minutes 28/1.

Betfred is also offering a pair of Price Boosts, including 5/1 about Ryan Hall and Jacob Gagai both crossing for tries, from 7/2.

Team News

Leeds are forced into a change after last week's lacklustre showing, with star full-back Lachie Miller banned. The Australian will miss the next three matches after being adjudged to have made unnecessary contact with an injured player, following the incident with Wigan's Oli Partington. He will be out until the middle of June.

So youngster Fergus McCormack looks likely to be given a chance in Miller's absence, having already been present in the 21-man squad last week.

Tom Holroyd has a back injury so the prop is the second man to drop out, with Zak Lloyd and Jacob Hardy the two men to come in. Presley Cassell is also likely to feature having been 18th man of late.

Huddersfield only named an initial 20-man squad, with the notable absentees Adam Swift, Taane Milne, on-loan Jack Billington and Asher O'Donnell.

Into the mix come Kieran Rush, Sam Hewitt and Connor Carr. Winger Swift is injured again, although I'm told it is nothing to worry about. Milne is banned and O'Donnell serves concussion protocols.

Rugby League Odds

Leeds by 16-20 @ 5/1

I really fancied Leeds last week, hence backing the Rhinos in our two selections, and was surprised by the complete lack of belief in their performance against an admittedly improving Wigan.

Other than the inevitable Maika Sivo try, we were wide of the mark. But I remain confident we will see something much more like a Leeds performance this week.

That loss at Wigan ended a run of five wins on the spin, and head coach Brad Arthur will demand a big response.

Huddersfield, on the other hand, looked set for a hiding at St Helens, trailing 24-0 at half-time before losing 26-18. It was nonetheless a fourth straight defeat that leaves the Giants rock bottom of the table.

And now they lock horns again with a Leeds side who put half a century on them just a few weeks ago. The Rhinos ran in 10 tries in that 56-22 win last month, four of them going to Brodie Croft who will leave the Rhinos at the end of the season. That news was only confirmed this week, so it will be interesting to see how the half-back - and the Headingley crowd - responds.

Even without the livewire Miller at the back, I have a comfortable enough Leeds win in this one. The handicap is 22 points which does put a little doubt in my mind given what I watched from the Rhinos last week.

Huddersfield are good enough to get within that margin I feel, although they will miss both Swift and Milne.

I'm going for a Leeds win by slightly under the handicap, and am taking a punt in the margin betting at 16-20 points.

Brodie Croft Anytime Tryscorer @ EVENS

Such has been the form of Leeds try machine Sivo that he is as short as 1/4 with Betfred to score a try anytime this week, or 9/2 if you fancy the leading scorer to cross first in the match.

Sivo is out on his own at the top of the Betfred Super League scoring charts, five clear of team-mate Croft. The mentality of Croft is that I would expect he will produce a very professional performance in a week dominated by news of his departure - which looks like being to Warrington.

Given he scored four tries in this same fixture just last month, I'm taking EVENS here on another Croft try.

For Huddersfield my most reliable pick this year has been Jacob Gagai, and he is a decent 7/4 to cross for another try in his fine season.

Find more Rugby League Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights