Super League preview: Wakefield v Leeds (Fri)
Yorkshire rivals Wakefield and Leeds meet for the second time in seven days tonight at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
Wildcats coach Richard Agar has included forwards Danny Kirmond and Andy Raleigh in his 19-man squad after they recovered from knocks picked up in last Friday’s 20-18 defeat.
Centre Dean Collis and forward Taulima Tautai are also set to return from injury for Trinity.
Tautai has been out of action since breaking a thumb on only his second appearance for the club, against Wigan at the start of June.
Leeds welcome back England captain Kevin Sinfield and are set to give a debut to a fifth teenager in the space of two months.
Head coach Brian McDermott has left out hooker Paul McShane, which suggests a new role for his skipper, with Liam Sutcliffe set to continue at stand-off after making a big impression during Sinfield’s absence.
McDermott, who has blooded Sutcliffe, Thomas Minns, Jordan Baldwinson and Alex Foster during the club’s injury crisis, has brought 19-year-old James Duckworth into his 19-man squad as the replacement for centre Kallum Watkins, who injured an ankle in last week’s home win over Wakefield.
Wakefield 19-man squad: Aiton, Amor, Cockayne, Collis, Fox, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Lyne, Mariano, Mathers, Poore, Raleigh, L Smith, T Smith, Tautai, Trout, Washbrook, Wildie, Wilkes.
Leeds 19-man squad: Ablett, Burrow, Clarkson, Delaney, Duckworth, Hardaker, Foster, Hall, Jones-Bishop, Keinhorst, Kirke, Leuluai, Minns, Moon, Moore, Peacock, Sinfield, Singleton, Sutcliffe.
Prediction: Wakefield will see this game as must win and should make it hard for Leeds, but the champions are hitting some good form. Away win.
Stats:
2013 meeting – Leeds 20-18 Wakefield (SLR22, 19/7/13)
Ryan Hall (Leeds) – needs two tries to draw level with Keiron Cunningham (138) in tenth place in the list of Super League all-time leading tryscorers.
Hall is currently joint eleventh alongside Lesley Vainikolo – both have 136 touchdowns to their names.
Super League summary:
Wakefield won 5
Leeds won 30 (includes win in 2012 play-offs)
Wakefield highest score: 44-28 (A, 2005) (Widest margin: 38-18, H, 2012)
Leeds highest score: 70-6 (A, 2005) (also widest margin)
