Sunday 14 September 2014 13:54, UK
Table-toppers St Helens will entertain Castleford in their opening qualifying tie in next week's Super League play-offs.
The Tigers finished fourth and will travel to Langtree Park on Friday night (8.00pm) for a mouth-watering qualifying play-off.
The other qualifying semi-final sees second-placed Wigan, the defending champions, host third-placed Huddersfield, the 2013 League Leaders', in another 8.00pm kick-off 24 hours earlier on Thursday night.
The winners of the two qualifying play-offs will have a bye in Week Two of the play-offs, when the losing teams will be at home to the winners of the two elimination play-offs.
All four play-offs in Week One will be televised live by Sky Sports, whose cameras will be at both The Halliwell Jones Stadium and Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Saturday for a compelling double bill of elimination play-offs.
With defeat meaning season-end for two clubs on Saturday, the stakes are at their highest as the closest Super League season in history reaches a dramatic denouement.
The do-or-die action kicks off at 2.45pm when fifth-placed Warrington face Widnes, who are making their debuts in the play-offs after securing a competition-best eighth-place finish.
The focus then switches to Headingley at 5.15pm when sixth-placed Leeds, the only club ever to win the Grand Final from outside the top-four places.
Brian McDermott's men must get past Catalans Dragons in their home play-off to stay in the competition.
Full schedule Super League play-off schedule:
Thursday September 18
Qualifying ties:
Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants (8.00pm)
Friday September 19
St Helens v Castleford Tigers (8.00pm)
Saturday September 20
Elimination ties:
Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings (2.45)
Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons (5.15)
All matches being shown exclusively live on Sky Sports
