Castleford coach Daryl Powell has admitted his side’s next two Super 8s clashes are pivotal to their season.

The Tigers are forced to make changes against the Giants for a match they need to win, with defeat the last time out at Catalans Dragons seeing them lose ground in their pursuit of a top-four finish.

Powell’s men follow their Huddersfield encounter by taking on fourth-placed St Helens next Thursday.

And Powell knows the next week could define their entire season.

“There’s no doubt about that,” he said. “Huddersfield are the only team we haven’t beaten this year.

“They’ve been too good for us on two occasions but that doesn’t mean to say it’s going to happen in the third. The Saints game is another key one.”

Powell brings in Luke Dorn and Denny Solomona for injured captain Michael Shenton and suspended winger Justin Carney, whose left-wing partnership harvested 12 tries in the last five matches.

Castleford Tigers' Denny Solomona is chased down by Huddersfield Giants' Brett Ferres (lleft) and Kyle Wood First Utility Super League XX Castleford Tigers v Huddersfield Giants 21/05/15 (Pic by John Rushworth)

“Obviously it’s tough losing your captain and left winger when they’ve been so good for us this year but it’s a challenge we’ve got to face,” added Powell.

“There’s no point worrying about what’s happened, we’ve got to just get on with it.

“One thing we’ve got is a pretty strong spirit and durability about us and we’ll be hoping to use that in our favour tomorrow night.”

Carney, who has scored 63 tries in 62 appearances for the Tigers, looks to have played his last match for the club following an affair he is alleged to have had with the wife of a teammate, but Powell is hoping Shenton can stage another rapid recovery after dislocating his shoulder for the second time this season.

The England centre missed only one game, coincidently at Huddersfield in March, after dislocating it the first time.

“It’s a little bit freakish in terms of circumstances and it’s pretty freakish in terms of how he recovers from things,” Powell said. “But this game is too early for him.”