Super League Play-off Semi-final Tips
Super League is down to the final four teams and the quartet slug it out this weekend in a bid to reach the Grand Final at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday October 11th.
Wigan Warriors host local rivals Leigh Leopards in the first semi-final on Friday night, before St Helens travel to Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday evening for the second semi-final, and we have picked out four best bets for a mouth-watering weekend of action.
TIP 1 - Wigan Warriors -8.5 @ 17/20
Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards (Friday, 8pm)
Semi-finals don't come much bigger than this and Friday's showdown between local rivals Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards should be an absolute belter.
Just seven miles separate the two towns and this derby clash is dubbed the Battle of the Borough given the close proximity of the rivals, meaning that this final-four contest won't be for the faint of heart.
The pair met at this stage of the play-offs 12 months ago with Wigan running out 38-0 winners on their way to winning back-to-back Super League titles, but things should be much closer this time around.
The two sides have met on three occasions since then, with Leigh winning twice, including a 1-0 win at the home of Wigan in round one of this campaign.
The Leopards are a much more formidable outfit this term and they brushed Wakefield aside with some ease in last week's eliminator.
However, there have been suggestions that a bug has been rife in the Leigh camp this week, limiting the training time of at least half of the squad, and that untimely setback could be the boost Wigan need.
The champions have had a week off to prepare for this contest and they are experts at getting over the line in this kind of contest.
Matt Peet's men should secure a place in their third consecutive Grand Final by covering a handicap of 8.5 points at the Brick Community Stadium.
Prior to this season's fixtures Wigan had won their previous home meetings with Leigh by margins of 38, 22, 18 and 26 points and, although this latest contest may not be so comprehensive, more disappointment could be coming Leigh's way on Friday.
TIP 2 - Hull Kingston Rovers -9.5 @ 5/6
Hull Kingston Rovers vs St Helens (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Hull Kingston Rovers edged past Warrington Wolves with a 10-8 home win 12 months ago to reach their first Super League Grand Final and they should make it back-to-back Old Trafford trips in more comfortable fashion on Saturday.
Rovers finished top of the table in the regular season to add the League Leaders' Shield to the Challenge Cup they lifted in June, and their bid for a trophy treble should continue with a victory over St Helens on home soil at Craven Park.
It has been a fantastic season for Willie Peters' side, who were beaten 9-2 by Wigan in last season's Grand Final and they will be determined to go one better this time around.
The Robins have lost just five matches in all competitions this term and they have dominated recent meetings with the Saints, too, winning each of the last five meetings by margins of 4, 30, 10, 36 and 20 points, and they should be full of confidence about extending that sequence on Saturday.
Saints looked dead and buried in last week's eliminator with Leeds Rhinos as they trailed at Headingley just as the final hooter blew, but a 16-pass final play saw them cross the whitewash in dramatic fashion to book their place in the semi-finals and end the Rhinos' hopes of an eighth Super League title.
The Red Vee have lifted the trophy on 10 occasions, but it is hard to see them getting past Hull KR this weekend.
Paul Wellens' men have been off the pace for most of this campaign and they have struggled in attack and their last three meetings with the top three sides of Hull KR, Wigan and Leigh have in the closing weeks of the regular season all resulted in losses.
The saying goes 'never write off the Saints', but this could be one weekend to ignore that old adage by backing Hull KR to ease past their title rivals with a win by at least 10 points on home turf.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change