Championship: Halifax Panthers v Swinton Lions LIVE

The Lions, like Fax, have two wins to their names this season - each eye-catching results in their own right. Last week they put 50 points on Finn’s old team Dewsbury Rams. Earlier in the campaign they recorded a stunning victory at Toulouse. It will certainly be a test for the Panthers this afternoon.

Of course it’s still very early days in the Championship, but the table makes very interesting reading after only five rounds with Fax the lowest scorers in the league so far with just 66 points. They will be looking to change that stat today.

I’m sure all Fax fans will remember the last time these two sides met. It was the final game of the regular 2023 league campaign with the Panthers needing a win to seal their place in the end of season play-offs. But Swinton had other ideas as they silenced The Shay with an impressive 22-12 win which also secured their place in the Championship.

We just 30 minutes away from kick off as fans start to take their place in the East and South stands.

There will be a warm welcome back to The Shay today for former player Ed Barber who has returned to his hometown club after coming out of retirement.

Fax come into the game after heavy defeats to Widnes and Sheffield. Here is what Liam Finn had to say to the Courier in the build-up to this contest:

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/concentration-toughness-and-resilience-under-pressure-liam-finn-highlights-the-key-areas-his-halifax-panthers-side-need-to-fix-ahead-of-swinton-lions-clash-4601698

And this how the Lions line up today:

Abram, Ritson, Vaughan, Hatton, Williams, Patton, Gibson, Green, Eaves, Wood, Foster, Cox, Hall

Interchanges: Hartill, Cooper, Spencer-Tonks, Badrock

There are plenty of changes to a Fax side which hasn’t scored a single point in three halves of rugby league. Louis Jouffret moves to full-back while James Woodburn-Hall moves to centre with Zach McComb moving to loose forward. Greg Eden comes back onto the wing, Joe Keyes joins Gareth Widdop in the halves from the start while Brandon Davies and Ed Barber are set for their second debuts from the bench.

This is how the Panthers line up today:

Halifax: Jouffret, Eden, Tibbs, Woodburn-Hall, Saltonstall, Widdop, Keyes, Larroyer, Inman, Tangata, Kavanagh, Gee, McComb

Interchanges: Fairbank, Lannon, Douglas, Barber

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Shay for this Betfred Championship round six fixture between Halifax Panthers and Swinton Lions. Can Fax return to winning ways after two successive defeats? Stay with us to find out. Kick off is at 3pm. The team news is next.