Sunday sees us take on a depleted Leeds side at home. We could have won at Headingley, but our customary defensive lapses let us down. Leeds will be smarting from their loss at Huddersfield, so will be no pushovers and the young lads they have brought into the side have generally done well. We though are getting close to full strength and I'd like to think that the side that won at Bradford might have sneaked it at Headingley.



Its a shame White has been ruled out but having Hanbury, Ah Van, Marsh, Phelps, Owens, Brown and Mellor in the back line. The fact that we have Gerrard, Joseph, O'Carroll and Kavanagh available as our 4 props will also make a big difference, as Pickersgill's form has not been great of late and we might even have Cross back in contention, who would dearly love to get one back on McDermott. A back row of Hock, Allen and Cahill, is as good as we can put out and it seems Leuluai's work rate is likely to get him the nod on the bench before Winterstein.



I suppose that we might go with an all forward bench with both Leuluai and Winterstein, but I thought we might want to see how Gore (or even Craven) went as bench hooker, I always feel Clarke goes better through the whole game if he gets a breather, so it would be nice to see that happen.



Whatever happens I feel sure that we can give them a decent game and hopefully win, especially if by some miracle we score first and don't give away a 12 point lead early on.

Sorry should have read:

..."but having Hanbury, Ah Van, Marsh, Phelps, Owens, Brown and Mellor in the back line, gives us our strongest set of backs for some time, with Owens perhaps the only player playing out of position!"

Personally I will be disappointed if we don't do 'em this time. I think we have to forget about 'getting on top of our defence'. We've been saying this ever since we let London Skolars score four tries in Betts's first game in charge - it ain't gonna happen anytime soon, is it? So let's post 30+ points and see where we get to.

Will Leeds risk Peacock and Watkins in this game. If these two don't play it will make things easier for us.

I think we never have a better chance of beating the loiners,we are at home,we are near to full strength,we are coming off a great win at bratfud after not playing too well plus they are struggling big style with injuries



My side would be

Hanbury,Owens,Phelps,Marsh,Ah Van,Brown,Mellor,O'Carroll,Clarke,Kavanagh,Allen,Hock,Cahill,subs Gerrard,Joseph,Winterstein and Gore on the bench



I have picked winters over lulu because hes a strike player off the bench and he almost always has a good game at home,especially against the better sides

Same as Bradford for me if Heps fit, only change would be Craven on the bench to replace Lloyd.

It be the same for me but I can't see Gore getting a chance.I feel Betts will pick Leuluai and Craven.

I'd love us to run them close, but think we could face the prospect of a heavy defeat here.



Last time, Leeds had several players who had played 72hrs earlier and had not had a huge amount of time to reorganise after suffering their injuries to key players. They have now had a couple of games to settle their replacements into the squad and other internationals will now be rested - this makes them a stronger team.



From the Vikings side, we will have the same squad, less one or two injuries so marginally a weaker side han last time.



Home game does favour us, but we will need to greatly improve field position on the last performance to make an impact on their line and play them in their half. Overall, I'm feeling a Leeds win by 12pts.

I see that we are due to play in our "White Kit" on Sunday against Leeds. I hope that the "powers that be" have taken notice that we have yet to win a game wearing this strip.

Is the powers that be a leprechaun? You don't honestly believe that luck rubbish do you?

Begorrah, you have caught me out.

Let's hope our "luck" changes on Sunday.

were at home so that will turn the tides compared to last time, the back line of leeds is still very strong so ours need to be on the money. Tough one to call.