The race for this season's Super League League Leaders' Shield will be all but decided on Saturday at Headingley as Leeds Rhinos host Wigan Warriors.
Both teams are on 40 points after 25 Super League matches and Leeds are top thanks to their superior points difference.
Brad Arthur's Leeds would effectively win the title if they win on Saturday, as their points difference is 174 better than Wigan's.
Leeds face Hull FC in their final game, but Wigan take on Catalans Dragons, so the Warriors will feel that the title is theirs if they can beat the Rhinos, especially considering Catalans' recent form.
The Rhinos have not lifted the League Leaders' Shield since 2015, but Wigan are looking to lift the trophy for the third time in four years.
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors Tips Summary
Best Bet - Wigan Warriors to win @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Wigan Warriors to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1
Bet Builder - To win both halves - Neither, Leeds Rhinos to trail in the match - Yes, Bevan French to score a try @ 15/4
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors Prediction
Best Bet: Wigan Warriors to win @ 1/1
Super League schedulers have played a blinder with this tie, as the biggest game of the entire campaign is taking place two weeks before the end of the season.
Wigan won the first meeting this season 24-4, but none of the last three games contained more than 30 points.
Another tense affair should be expected at Headingley, but it is a surprise to see Wigan considered the outsiders.
Yes, they are away from home, but Matt Peet's side have won 14 games in a row and are close to breaking their own record for consecutive Super League victories.
Leeds have only lost once this season at home, but they have yet to prove they can be trusted at the business end of a campaign, or when silverware is up for grabs.
They were outclassed by Wakefield Trinity in the Challenge Cup earlier this season, and Wigan have continued to show in recent years under Peet that they are the team to beat in big games.
Until that changes, it is hard to back against them and they look good value for an away success considering their recent form.
Alternative Bet: Wigan Warriors to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1
While Wigan should have enough quality to come out on top, it is difficult to see them winning by a big margin. Even when Leeds lost to Leigh in August, it was by four points.
Wigan have not scored more than 10 points on their last two visits to Headingley, but this game has miles more riding on it than previous visits.
Nerves will play their part as both teams will want to win and boost their hopes of winning silverware and Leeds' home form suggests they will go down swinging.
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors Bet Builder Tip
To win both halves - Neither
Leeds Rhinos to trail in the match - Yes
Bevan French to score a try
Pays @ 15/4
This game should be considered a real 50/50, and even though the Warriors are the team to back, it would not be a surprise to see them lose either half against a side as good as Leeds.
Leeds are now in uncharted waters, and with Wigan in fine form and with superior experience, they should have no issue taking the lead this week.
Big games can often be decided by an error or a moment of magic and the latter is often used to describe the play of Wigan half-back Bevan French.
French is the best in Super League in spotting gaps and punishing the opposition, so in this decider, expect him to come up trumps.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Leeds Rhinos have only lost one game at home this season
Wigan Warriors have won their last 13 Super League games
The Warriors are unbeaten in 14 in all competitions since winning the Challenge Cup in May
Wigan Warriors have won three of the last five meetings between the two clubs
Maika Sivo, Super League's top tryscorer, returns to the Leeds squad looking to add to his 29 tries this weekend
Read more rugby league betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
