By Brandon Reeves
Huddersfield can step up the pressure on the top two in the league with potential for a fifth win in a row against Sheffield Tigers when they come to Lockwood Park for a Yorkshire derby.
Field currently sit third behind Chester by two points and Hull Ionians by eight with a game in hand and both still to play in the league.
Tigers are looking to build on a win over Fylde last week and to stop Field from doing a league double over them for two years in a row.
In fact, the South Yorkshire men are looking for a first league win over Field since 2013, a season in which Tigers twice beat Huddersfield before yo-yoing in and out of National League Two North.
But Sheffield have their threats, and can rise to the occasion, especially when their backs click into gear, and kicker Mark Ireland gets a sight of the sticks.
Head Coach Gareth Lewis is prepared for the threat Tigers bring “Sheffield Tigers are a dangerous team, 54% of their tries this season have come from three of their excellent back line.
“They beat a good Fylde side last week so we will have to defend intelligently.
“However, we are on a good run of form ourselves and providing we reach last week’s levels of physicality we will be a tough team to beat.”
Field are showing some of the hallmarks of the run they went on during the first half of the season when they notched seven straight wins from September to November.
As well as having the gumption to put teams away, their solidity is paramount to what they do when their backs are to the wall.
Field’s defensive record is currently the best in the league with the lowest points against, conceding an average of just 18 points per game.
Their forward pack sees some rotation this time out, last week it did tremendously well in possession, especially in the maul.
Nick Sharpe is in the back row, Matt Dunn and Guy Borrowdale are at Lock, while Reuben Pollard and Harry Whitfield come in and flank Fran Entressengle in the front row.
The single change at half back sees Joe Green replaced by Jack Maplesden.
And the man who operates in Field’s number ten shirt Chris Johnson could become embroiled in a kicking contest with Tigers’ Mark Ireland in town.
Ireland has 105 points with the boot alone this season while Chris Johnson has 83 kicking points starting from just November.
Saturday should be an interesting watch, while it’s not long before keeping half an eye on developments elsewhere in the league takes on more importance.
Leaders Hull will travel to Stourbridge needing a win to bounce back from defeat at Wharfedale, Chester were dominated by Tynedale last week so will be looking for a complete reverse of that 35-5 defeat when they play host to bottom team Peterborough.
Fylde, just a point below Field host Tynedale who are in form, Hinckley who are within touching distance of Field in fifth face a Leicestershire Derby against South at Welford Road.
Huddersfield XV: Tom Hodson, Kian Stewart, Mark Pease, Will Milner, Lewis Workman, Chris Johnson, Jack Maplesden; Harry Whitfield, Fran Entressengle, Reuben Pollard, Guy Borrowdale, Matt Dunn, Nick Sharpe, Lewis Bradley, Dickie Piper (C).
Replacements: Alex Battye, Mark Chivers, Ross Thornton, Joe Green, Elliot Spears
