By Brandon Reeves
The first home game of the new year for Huddersfield sees a visit of Macclesfield to Lockwood Park as the home side look for a third successive win in the league.
And in Macclesfield, they come up against a side they have already beaten this season, when they managed to get a first league win at Priory Park.
The blues will be disappointed with their season so far as they sit second bottom in the league with just four wins all year, and fourteen points away from safety while failing to notch up an away day win thus far.
Macc’s issue is clear. Shipping points. Defensively they have the worst record in the league having 542 points gone against them, although they have claimed some big scalps.
Beating Fylde, Hinckley and Otley shows that they have it in them to step up to big opposition.
Gareth Lewis says he is well aware of Macclesfield’s abilities “Macclesfield are a good team who we must respect.
“They have dangerous half backs and a strong set piece game, so we are expecting a very tough encounter once again.”
And on the back of a momentous away day in Lancashire downing Preston Grasshoppers 27-22, Lewis took the positives of a big result.
“Last week was an excellent performance and we can take confidence from it.
“However, we still feel we left two or three tries out there, so we’ve challenged ourselves to be better in training this week.”
The side that staved off Grasshoppers’ advances is largely unchanged barring a change apiece in backs and forwards alike.
Joe Green replaces Jack Maplesden at scrumhalf, while Alex Battye starts in the front row after his try-scoring exploits, replacing Harry Whitfield.
As ever, a win keeps Field within the existing pack from 2nd down to 6th which is separated by just nine points. And as we keep seeing week-on-week there are eye-catching results.
The league leaders Hull host Midlands outfit Hinckley who sit fourth, Chester receive a visit from Sheffield Tigers looking to reverse their defeat to Leicester Lions last week.
Fylde themselves play Lions at home while there are a couple of potentially mouth-watering ties elsewhere. Otley and Wharfedale go toe-to-toe in a Yorkshire derby, while Sedgley Park and Preston clash at Park Lane
Huddersfield XV: Tom Hodson, Kian Stewart, Mark Pease, Will Milner, Lewis Workman, Chris Johnson, Joe Green; Alex Battye, Fran Entressengle, Adam Blades, Guy Borrowdale, Nick Sharpe, Ross Thornton, Lewis Bradley, Dickie Piper(C).
Replacements: Harry Whitfield, Liam Parfitt, Matt Dunn, Jack Maplesden, Elliot Knight.
