ESL Sunday Games - Preview

Widnes Vikings can kick-start their top six chase when they visit Castleford Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

The Vikings sit three points below Wigan and the Tigers entering Round Ten, and know that a win at The Jungle would narrow the gap to just one. They lost to Wigan last week, but their display was a marked improvement following their derby defeat at Warrington.

Castleford were also on the end of a defeat last weekend, going down 30-10 at Bradford on Sunday as their inconsistent form continued.

Their cause was hardly helped by the loss of captain Danny Orr following a high tackle from Leon Pryce on the half hour, while Mitch Healey also took a knock.

But their presence at The Jungle gives them a chance to continue re-forming their half back partnership after Healey's long absence with a hamstring injury. --------------

Huddersfield Giants will hope to end their three-match losing run as well as Bradford's 11-game winning streak when they host the Bulls on Sunday evening.

The Giants have faltered since winning at Halifax on Good Friday, losing to Castleford, London and at Hull last week, with a display coach Tony Smith described as "substandard".

He admits that they need to improve if they are to end Bradford's winning run, with the Bulls now unbeaten since the opening game of Super League VIII at St Helens.

Their bandwagon rumbled onwards with a win over Castleford last Sunday night, made all the more impressive by their fine defensive effort with only 12 men following Leon Pryce's sending off.

The Great Britain star misses this game through suspension, and with Robbie Paul still covering for injured Michael Withers at full back, Karl Pratt or Academy star Chris Bridge could step in at stand off.

With Stuart Fielden still on the sidelines, Richard Moore retains his place in a 20-man squad, and he joined Bridge in scoring a hat-trick of tries as the Bulls' Under-21s ran up 114 points against Hull KR on Thursday.