WITH one round of the Super League season to go, there is still plenty up in the air in terms of how the final table looks.
For Warrington Wolves, their chances of finishing in an all-important top-two spot remain improbable but alive. A third-place finish appears more likely but even then, their eliminator opponents could still be one of four teams.
Here is how things look heading into the final round of fixtures…
The chase is on at the top
Wigan Warriors are in pole position at the top and avoiding defeat to Salford Red Devils on Thursday night would secure the League Leaders’ Shield for the second season in a row.
A Red Devils win would secure them a home eliminator tie and also open the door for Hull KR, who would then snatch the Shield on points difference by beating Leeds Rhinos on Friday. At worst, that would secure the men from Craven Park in second spot.
The Wire can no longer finish top but they can overhaul the Robins in second should they beat London Broncos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday and Willie Peters’ side lose to Leeds.
There also needs to be a 17-point swing in points difference, which is now much less of a factor given Sam Burgess’ side’s 66-0 hammering of Huddersfield Giants on Saturday night.
The top two sides go straight into the semi-finals, where they will have home advantage.
Plenty to play for behind Wire
The most likely scenario remains Warrington finishing in third place, which would mean they would host the team finishing in sixth place in the eliminator round at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday, September 28.
While Wire cannot finish any lower than third, the make-up of the play-off positions behind them remains very much up in the air.
One team they will not be facing is Salford Red Devils, who guaranteed their play-off spot by beating Hull FC on Saturday and will finish either fourth or fifth depending on the Round 27 results.
There are four teams in contention for the remaining two spots – barring a freak sequence of results, St Helens will be in the top six but could finish anywhere between fourth and sixth.
They visit Leigh Leopards, for whom a win would guarantee a play-off spot, in Round 27 but a Saints win open the door for Leeds Rhinos and Catalans Dragons below them.
Leeds must beat Hull KR and hope Leigh lose to St Helens in order to reach the top six but should both the Leopards and the Rhinos lose, Catalans would snatch sixth spot by winning at Hull FC on Saturday.
London provide an interesting sub-plot
Wire’s visitors will arrive at The Halliwell Jones Stadium hoping to stay off the foot of the table, which would be a seismic achievement.
Their narrow loss in Perpignan to Catalans on Saturday night coupled with Hull FC’s heavy 58-4 loss to Salford allowed Mike Eccles’ side to jump above the Black and Whites on points difference by just one point.
So while the onus will likely be on Warrington to gain the points they need, London’s battle to stay off the foot of the league is an interesting sub-plot.
Super League Round 27 fixtures
Thursday: Huddersfield Giants vs Castleford Tigers, Wigan Warriors vs Salford Red Devils (both 8pm)
Friday: Hull KR vs Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Leopards vs St Helens, Warrington Wolves vs London Broncos (all 8pm)
Saturday: Hull FC vs Catalans Dragons (3pm)
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