A bruised and battered Seawolves host the league-leading Hounds at Starfire Stadium on Friday night. It’s a short turnaround for both sides, who are asked to front up on just four days rest. Seattle have lost two key players to season-ending injuries but welcome a new name this week, while Chicago are taking the opportunity to shuffle their lineup with an eye towards the business end of the season.
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
 |
IN | OUT |
| 6 | Kalisi Moli | Harison Mataele |
| 12 | Dan Kriel | Calvin Liulamaga |
| 14 | Drake Davis | Nolan Tuamoheloa |
 |
IN | OUT |
| 3 | Wilton Rebolo | Charlie Abel |
| 5 | Brandon Harvey | Nathan Den Hoedt |
| 8 | Matthew Oworu | Maclean Jones |
| 11 | Peyton Wall | Jason Tidwell |
| 12 | Santiago Videla | Ollie Devoto |
| 13 | Tiaan Loots | Tavite Lopeti |
| NOTES |
- Injured / unavailable – (Seawolves) Sean McNulty, Dewald Donald, Harison Mataele, Dorian Jones, Mark Bennett, Lauina Futi, Rufus McLean; (Hounds) Malcolm May
- second row Harison Mataele and outside center Mark Bennett will play no further part for the Seawolves this season after suffering season-ending injuries… but the squad is boosted this week by the return of Dan Kriel
- a new name this week is former Houston SaberCats winger Drake Davis, who was a standout performer for the finalists towards the end of last season… Davis jumps straight into the starting lineup after arriving from Texas where had been playing for Dallas Reds
- prop Mason Pedersen is available earlier than expected after his suspension was reduced by a week
- starting tighthead Ignacio Péculo lines up opposite his former team… the Uruguayan international played for the Hounds during the 2024 and 2025 campaigns… reserve wing Michael Hand was also with Chicago last year
- versatile Brazilian front rower Wilton Rebolo makes his Hounds debut in the No3 shirt… Rebolo played for Houston in 2025… he is one of two club debuts for the visitors, the other ex-Miami hooker or flanker Tomás Bekerman
- Peyton Wall makes his first appearance of the season on the left wing for Chicago… he was outstanding in the second half of last season, earning MLR Rookie of the Year honors
| PREDICTION |
Weather shouldn’t be a factor on Friday but fatigue will be. The Hounds have opted to rotate about half their lineup but remain a very competitive side. Seattle are beaten up and have dropped their last two games. They’ll be depending on the Starfire faithful to lift their spirits. At this stage of the season the Hounds are setting the pace with 14 points their lowest margin of victory. A first win over the Seawolves looks very much on the cards. Chicago are favorites on the road in Tukwila.
| TEAMS |
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Ignacio Péculo, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Kalisi Moli, 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 André Warner, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 JP Smith, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Drake Davis, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Liki Chan-Tung, 17 LaRome White, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Tia’i Vavao, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Calvin Liulamaga, 23 Michael Hand
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Theo Fourie, 3 Wilton Rebolo, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Brandon Harvey, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Santiago Videla, 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Brock Webster
Replacements: 16 Tomás Bekerman, 17 Luke White, 18 Koby Baker, 19 Jake Kinneeveauk, 20 Emmanuel Albert, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Noah Brown
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, April 24
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:00 local (21:00 Central, 22:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 55°F (13°C), wind N 7-10 mph (11-17 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports (International), Kong 6 (Local), Fox Chicago Plus (Local), GameTV (YouTube)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: David Vosalevu (Fiji)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USA) & Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: n/a
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (4) – Seawolves 4, Hounds 0
2025-04-18 – Seattle Seawolves 28, Chicago Hounds 22 (Starfire Stadium)
2024-03-30 – Chicago Hounds 26, Seattle Seawolves 34 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2023-05-20 – Seattle Seawolves 35, Chicago Hounds 13 (Starfire Stadium)
2023-03-26 – Chicago Hounds 5, Seattle Seawolves 27 (SeatGeek Stadium)
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