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Super League Play-offs set for scintillating start

Eight teams have made the play-offs but who will be crowned Super League champions at Old Trafford on October 11?

Liam Sutcliffe of Leeds Rhinos celebrates a try during the Super League match against St Helens at Headingley Carnegie
Image: Leeds finished in their lowest league position since 1996, but can they still reach the Grand Final?

After one of the tightest Super League seasons ever, the top eight enter the final stretch this Thursday as the play-offs get underway.

With a place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 11 up for grabs, all eight sides will fancy their chances of being crowned champions. Just 11 points separated the play-off contenders after 27 games of the regular season so expect an equally unpredictable and exhilarating climax to the campaign.

It all kicks off on Thursday evening as reigning champions Wigan Warriors entertain Huddersfield Giants in a fascinating first qualifying play-off. League runners-up Wigan start as the narrow favourites to defend their Super League crown and have the benefit of home advantage throughout the play-offs. But Paul Anderson's Giants have already beaten the Warriors twice this season and are riding a seven-match unbeaten run following their impressive 17-16 win over St Helens on the final day of the season.

That result opened the door for Castleford to finish top of the table for the first time in their history but they could not take advantage as they were beaten 28-6 at Catalan Dragons – meaning Saints secured the League Leaders’ Shield by a single point from Leeds and Huddersfield. St Helens’ reward is a home qualifying play-off against Cas on Friday evening, with both sides still in with a second shot in the qualifying semi-final next week if they lose.

There will be no second chances on Saturday as Warrington Wolves host Widnes Vikings in the first of the elimination play-offs. Warrington start the match as strong favourites having wrapped up the regular season with a 39-12 thrashing of St Helens and a narrow defeat to Wigan on the final day. They also crushed eighth-placed Widnes 44-6 on their last visit to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, but will defeat in the last two Grand Finals inspire Wolves or weigh them down?

The weekend’s action concludes with six-time champions Leeds Rhinos against Catalan Dragons at the DW Stadium. After finishing in their lowest league position in nearly a decade, the Rhinos face the tricky prospect of knockout rugby from the start. But it would take a brave man to write off the play-off specialists at this stage, even if they face a Dragons side who looked so impressive in wrecking Castleford’s aspirations on the final day. 

Watch the Super League Play-offs, live on Sky Sports from Thursday 18.

Thursday 18: Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants (Qualifying Play-off, Sky Sports 1 HD 19:30)

Friday 19: St Helens v Castleford Tigers (Qualifying Play-off, Sky Sports 1 HD (19:30)

Saturday 20: Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings (Elimination play-off, Sky Sports 3 HD 14:30)

Saturday 20: Leeds Rhinos v Catalan Dragons (Elimination play-off, Sky Sports 3 HD 17:00)

Watch the rest of the Super League Play-offs and the Grand Final live on Sky Sports.

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