Salford Red Devils v Leigh Leopards: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The dust has settled on the Super League regular season, but the action is far from over with five matches remaining to find the 2024 champion.

Wigan Warriors and Hull KR have a week off after finishing first and second, leaving four teams to battle it out this weekend for a place in next week's semi-finals.

Warrington Wolves and St Helens will lock horns on Saturday, but first up Salford Red Devils host Leigh Leopards on Friday in a mouthwatering contest at the Salford Stadium.

The pair have met three times already this season, with Leigh winning twice on home soil and Salford taking the points on their own patch.

The visitors have the better form going into this contest, but the pair have been neck and neck all season and that is reflected in the betting.

Salford to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1

Leigh have won six of their last seven matches in the closing rounds of the regular season and that kind of form is crucial heading into the play-offs.

However, Salford boss Paul Rowley is one of the most astute bosses in the competition and his achievements have been remarkable given he has one of the weaker squads on paper at his disposal.

Leigh have comfortably won their last two meetings with the Red Devils - 26-0 and 40-12 - but both of those wins came at the Leigh Sports Village, and they are not quite as effective away from home.

Similarly, Salford do most of their best work on home soil and a record crowd is set to be on hand to give them that extra push.

Leigh have won just one of their last five visits to this venue and that sequence could be extended on Friday.

Catalans Dragons, Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Warrington and Leigh have all been beaten at the Salford Stadium this season and, in a match which could swing either way, backing a narrow home win looks the best bet.

Rowley rested most of his first team for last week's final regular-season contest against Wigan, so his side should be fresh and raring to go which could also help following a bruising campaign.

With Marc Sneyd back at scrum-half, the Red Devils have one of the best kickers in the game and his ball skills could prove vital in this do-or-die encounter.

Salford won by a margin of 10 points when these two teams last met at this venue in March, so backing a home win by no more than 12 points looks a solid option

Penalty first scoring play @ 13/2

As mentioned, this is a contest which could swing either way and making a fast start could be crucial, as could taking any points on offer when the chance arises.

So, with that in mind, backing either team to open the scoring courtesy of a penalty-kick at goal looks a sensible ploy.

Referees are often keen to quickly stamp their authority on huge matches like this, so a flurry of penalties could be handed out in the early stages and neither side will want to waste an opportunity to have a pop at goal.

Sneyd rarely misses for Salford, while Leigh kicker Matt Moylan is also effective from the kicking tee, so taking the 13/2 on offer that one of the sides gets the scoreboard ticking over with a two-pointer looks a decent bit of business.

Drop-goal to be scored @ 11/4

It may also pay off to back a successful drop-goal being scored in the match at 11/4.

A close contest is highly likely and there is a genuine possibility of scores being close in the final minutes, so a one-point score could be crucial to get one of the sides over the line.

Sneyd is no stranger to kicking drop goals and leads the competition with four successful kicks over 27 rounds of the regular season.

Leigh haven't managed any, but that won't put them off trying for one if it means a route into next week's semi-finals against Wigan or Hull KR.

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Salford Red Devils v Leigh Leopards odds

Salford Red Devils - 1/1
Leigh Leopards - 4/5

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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.