Leigh Leopards have found their form over recent weeks and that could spell trouble for Warrington Wolves when the pair meet at Super League's Magic Weekend on Saturday.
A lengthy injury list took its toll on the Leopards over the opening months of the season, but it is no surprise they have hit their stride since those fitness concerns have decreased and they head to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on the back of seven wins in nine.
High-flying Warrington are arguably in even better form, winning seven of their last eight in Super League, but the second-placed Wolves are dealing with their own mounting injury list ahead of this trip to Merseyside.
Leigh Leopards v Warrington Wolves Tips Summary
Best Bet - Leigh Leopards -8.5 @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Josh Charnley anytime tryscorer @ 4/5
Bet Builder - Leigh Leopards to win, Innes Senior anytime tryscorer & Matty Ashton anytime tryscorer @ 5/1
Leigh Leopards v Warrington Wolves Prediction
Best Bet: Leigh Leopards -8.5 @ 1/1
It was an unexpectedly tough start to the season for Leigh, who at one stage even propped up the standings, losing five of their opening seven games.
However, since suffering back-to-back defeats to Warrington - one in the league and one in the Challenge Cup - in early April, Adrian Lam's side, inspired by their treatment room getting emptier, have found their feet.
Across their last nine games, the Leopards have racked up seven wins, while their defeats during that run have both come against reigning Grand Final winners Hull KR.
Their record against the current top six does not make for the best of reading - their only win over one of those sides came against Leeds Rhinos on the opening weekend - but they appear to be facing Warrington at the right time.
The second-placed Wire were already dealing with a raft of injuries prior to last weekend's narrow 18-16 victory over Catalans Dragons, but they lost three more players during that match.
Josh Thewlis, Jordy Crowther and Arron Lindop all came off injured in that contest and they join Cai Taylor-Wray, Toby King, George Williams, Luke Yates, Sam Stone, Toff Sipley, Joe Philbin and Zack Gardner on the sidelines.
A depleted Warrington could be there for the taking and Leigh, who have won four of the last five Super League meetings between the sides, can also cover the handicap.
Alternative Bet: Josh Charnley anytime tryscorer @ 4/5
Leigh have their own injury concerns ahead of this match, with doubts surrounding the fitness of back-rower Jacob Alick-Wiencke and wing Josh Charnley.
Coach Lam has confirmed a late decision will be made on both players, but Charnley, whose stitched-up knee wound opened back up in last weekend's win at Toulouse, is perhaps the more likely of the two to play.
That could be good news for the Leopards as Charnley is in red-hot form, following up a hat-trick in the 38-12 win at Bradford Bulls on 14th June by grabbing four tries on his next appearance against Toulouse.
The 35-year-old is now on 20 tries for the season - only the red-hot Maika Sivo of Leeds has more - while his hat-trick against the Bulls saw him surpass Ryan Hall as Super League’s all-time record tryscorer.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Charnley has to be a major contender to add to his try haul, so long as he can prove his fitness.
Leigh Leopards v Warrington Wolves Bet Builder Tip
Leigh Leopards to win
Innes Senior anytime tryscorer
Matty Ashton anytime tryscorer
Pays 5/1
Leigh's resurgent form and the injury-depleted nature of the Warrington squad means backing the Leopards to pick up the Magic Weekend spoils kicks off this bet builder.
While Charnley will provide much of Leigh's attacking threat, fellow wing Innes Senior has also been in tryscoring form, crossing the whitewash in three of his last four Super League appearances.
For Warrington, despite all their injuries they still have Matty Ashton to call upon and he has grabbed tries in back-to-back games against Catalans and Leeds.
The 27-year-old's try tally for the season now stands at nine and that includes the two he collected in Warrington's 42-6 success over Leigh when the teams last met in Super League in early April.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Leigh have won seven of their last nine matches
Warrington have won seven of their last eight in Super League
The Wolves have already beaten Leigh twice this season, once in the league and once in the Challenge Cup
Leigh have triumphed in four of their last five Super League meetings with Warrington
Leopards wing Josh Charnley has scored seven tries in his last two games
Charnley is the all-time record tryscorer in Super League with 276
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.
