Team Talk: Huddersfield Giants (h)

Warrington are looking to extend their unbeaten run on Monday as they take on Huddersfield Giants at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

In terms of the squad news, captain Jack Hughes is suspended for the game after a late tackle in the Challenge Cup win over Catalans. In Hughes' absence, coach Steve Price has confirmed that Mike Cooper will captain the team. Matty Ashton is a long-term absentee and won't be returning to the side for this match, but there are 4000 returns as the Halliwell Jones plays host to rugby league in front of fans for the first side since March 2020. It goes without saying that I hope those who attend the game enjoy the experience and have a great night.

Now, onto my preferred lineup...

Full-Back - 22 Josh Thewlis
A young player who has massively impressed me lately. Inglis struggled at full-back, so I'd give Thewlis a go there.

Winger - 17 Jake Mamo
Mamo has become quite a strike player of late and despite how highly I rate Tom Lineham, Mamo has to be in the team somewhere.

Centre - 4 Toby King
One of Super League's outstanding players this season. Let's just hope that the recent speculation about his future won't affect his performance levels.

Centre - 3 Greg Inglis
I don't think he's quite got the legs to play full-back any more, so I'd bring him back to centre and see what kind of influence he can have out wide.

Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
Charnley is starting to improve and I'd be interested to see what kind of combination play him and Inglis could come up with.

Stand-Off - 1 Stefan Ratchford
There might be a temptation to bring Blake Austin into the lineup but I think Ratchford should probably stay there - there seems to be a positive balance to the team at the minute.

Scrum-Half - 7 Gareth Widdop
A man who has been controlling things for Wire this season. His offensive and defensive play has been magnificent and has been one of Super League's most influential players.

Prop - 8 Chris Hill
The forward has been back to his best so far this year and as always, will be a key part to the game, particularly the early stages.

Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Another man linked with a move away from Wire lately but in tremendous form. The way he's playing lately, he'd be golden in the NRL.

Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
A proud night for Cooper as he captains the club on Monday. Has been very good in the last few games.

Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Will have a different back-row partner on Monday and I'd like to see Wire get him with his hands on the ball more than in the Catalans game.

Second Row - 20 Sitaleki Akauola
Perhaps a surprising choice, but in the absence of a genuine second row option, I'd like to see Akauola tried out there for his running game.

Loose Forward - 15 Matt Davis
I love Davis' industry and work-rate, and I'd rather see him at 13 than interchange hooker for games against less dominant forward packs.

Interchange - 13 Joe Philbin
Hasn't quite got going yet this year but is still reliable enough from the bench.

Interchange - 19 Robbie Mulhern
Been quietly impressed by him so far. He could end up starting in the back row.

Interchange - 14 Jason Clark
Might start at 13 but I personally think he brings a lot from the bench.

Interchange - 16 Danny Walker
His pace of distribution from dummy-half may be a factor late in the game.

Preferred Team: Thewlis; Mamo, King, Inglis, Charnley; Ratchford, Widdop; Hill, D. Clark, Cooper; Currie, Akauola; Davis.
Philbin, Mulhern, J. Clark, Walker.

Predicted Team: Inglis; Thewlis, King, Mamo, Charnley; Ratchford, Widdop; Hill, D. Clark, Cooper; Currie, Davis; J. Clark.
Philbin, Mulhern, Walker, Akauola.

@ALooseWire