Rugby Super League 2013 Fixtures: Previewing Key Matchups on Schedule

The Super League is reaching its final stages over the next month, but there are still some vital games to be played. The League Leaders' Shield could be decided this weekend, and after that it will be all about the playoffs and the Grand Final.

We've looked at the remaining fixtures of the regular season and picked out some key battles in the race for Super League supremacy.

Huddersfield Giants vs. Wakefield Wildcats

Simply put, this game could decide the Shield. A win would guarantee Huddersfield the hubcap for the first time in 81 years.

With Shaun Lunt returning from the shoulder injury that's kept him out of action for a month, the Giants are also going into the game with no injuries.

It's not an exaggeration to say that it's the most important game in the history of the club, so there should be massive home support. Despite their strong performances all year, the home crowds have fallen short of expectation.

The watching faithful have the chance to witness history here, so every Super League fan in Yorkshire owes it to themselves to get to the game.

Wakefield will obviously be out to ruin the whole thing, however. Speaking to the Wakefield Express, skipper Danny Kirmond had no sentimentality for the occasion:

"

We’re going there to crash their party. Hopefully they’ll be a little bit more excited and ready to party so they’ll be off their game a little bit.

They’ve done really well to put themselves in a position to win the league now but we’ll be going there to crash it, definitely.

Having played there before I’m pretty happy for them how well they’ve done in the league this year but definitely, on an individual part, I don’t want to be going there and seeing them winning the league when I’m taking my team there to get a victory.

"

Even if it falls short of being historical, it promises to be a great game.

Wigan Warriors vs. Leeds Rhinos

If nothing else, this game will feature some of the coolest kits ever seen on a rugby field. Both Wigan and Leeds will sport shirts that replicate the costume worn by Henry Cavill in Man of Steel for their final game of the season. 

These limited edition shirts may be immediate collector's items, but there could be more important things at stake.

Both teams currently sit in playoff positions with identical records and will be look to exert a level of dominance before starting their run at the title.

The Rhinos welcome back Danny McGuire, Ryan Bailey and Jamie Jones-Buchanan for the game against the Catalan Dragons, which is absolutely essential to their playoff run.

As noted by the Yorkshire Post, those three players have 18 Grand Final winner's medals between them and will be calm in such an intense environment.

Bradford Bulls vs. Huddersfield Giants

When these two teams met over the Magic Weekend, Huddersfield crushed Bradford 42-6. The Bulls never seemed to match the tempo of the game and the Giants were simply able to power through them.

In March, however, Bradford inflicted a 42-18 defeat over the league leaders, so they know they can beat them.

What gives this contest an extra edge is that Bradford's playoff hopes are now over, as they sit just out of contention in ninth place. They will be keen to show they are a team to watch next year.

The versatility of Danny Addy was recently finally rewarded with a new two-year contract and the Bulls followed this up by signing St. Helens stand-off Lee Gaskell.

It's clear that Bradford are beginning to set higher goals for themselves and a second win over the league leaders would ensure they're heading in the right direction.