SL preview: Leeds v Catalans (Fri)

Leeds head coach Brian McDermott has included England internationals Danny McGuire, Ryan Bailey and Jamie Jones-Buchanan for the visit of Catalan to Headingley Carnegie.

McGuire has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury against Hull FC back in May, whilst Bailey and Jones-Buchanan have not featured since June.

Opposing head coach Laurent Frayssinous is without the services of Louis Anderson, Jason Baitieri, Zeb Taia, Michael Simon and Daryl Millard, but he does include captain Remi Casty in his 19-man sqaud for the trip to Yorkshire.

Leeds 19-man squad: Hardaker, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Bailey, Kirke, Clarkson, Moore, Singleton, Sutcliffe, Foster.

Catalan 19-man squad: Webb, Blanch, Pryce, Bosc, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Mounis, Pelissier, Larroyer, Bousquet, Fakir, Paea, Duport, Vaccari, Whitehead, Garcia.

Prediction: Home win.

Stats:

Catalan are seeking their first away win against Leeds on Friday night.

The Dragons have lost on all eight of their visits to Headingley since 2006, including a 27-20 play-off defeat in 2009.           

Leeds’ Kevin Sinfield has scored points in all 18 of the Rhinos’ meetings with the Dragons since 2006.

2013 meeting – Catalan 12, Leeds 27 (SLR10, 1/4/13)

Super League summary:

Leeds won 14 (includes wins in 2009 & 2012 play-offs)

Catalan won 4

Leeds highest score: 60-12 (H, 2006) (Widest margin: 58-10, A, 2006; 60-12, H, 2006)

Catalan highest score: 38-18 (H, 2011); 38-34 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 38-18, H, 2011)