Two teams many expected to push for the top four in 2023 are in danger of finishing in the bottom four.
Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants have both flattered to deceive in 2023 and are both in difficult runs of form which have seen their play-off hopes slowly erode.
Both sides need a win here to give their play-off hopes a boost and to essentially keep them alive.
These two have a tradition of closely fought games.
Earlier this season only one point separated the two and expect the same on Friday night.
It will be a special night as well with Rob Burrow the special guest with the focus on Motor Neurone Disease.
The team news is now in and the headline news from Huddersfield is the absence of Jake Connor.
The fullback is left out of the squad having been the 18th man against Warrington Wolves.
Jermaine McGillvary returns for the Giants but Josh Jones is still absent.
𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🟠
Ian Watson has named his 21-Man Squad for Round 2 of the West Yorkshire derby vs @leedsrhinos. 👇#CowbellArmy🐮🔔 pic.twitter.com/oS3uMfSFtL
— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) June 21, 2023
The Rhinos welcome back Tongan international David Fusitu’a, who has not played for ten weeks since suffering an ankle injury in the defeat at Hull KR back in Round 7 at the end of March.
Samoan prop Sam Lisone is back after four weeks out with a calf injury and is set to make his 150th career appearance. Lisone has made 12 appearances for the Rhinos since joining this season having previously made 48 appearances for Gold Coast Titans and 85 for New Zealand Warriors along with four for Samoa between 2015 and 2017.
The Rhinos also have half back Aidan Sezer back available after he missed the last two games.
Nene Macdonald misses out as he continues his return to play protocol after a head injury in the Rhinos last game whilst Leeds are still without the long term injured players Harry Newman, Zane Tetevano and Morgan Gannon. Tom Holroyd has returned to training but has not been cleared to return to action yet after injury.
The squad in full is:
1 Richie Myler sponsored by Y F Furniture
2 David Fusitu’a sponsored by Berry’s Jewellers
5 Ash Handley sponsored by Roxy Ballroom
6 Blake Austin sponsored by AXIS
7 Aidan Sezer sponsored by Vale Services
8 Mikolaj Oledzki sponsored by Pickups Self Storage
11 James Bentley sponsored by Trivent Ltd
12 Rhyse Martin sponsored by Mailway Packaging Solutions
13 Cameron Smith sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
14 Jarrod O’Connor sponsored by Boardrm
15 Sam Lisone sponsored by KBins
16 Derrell Olpherts sponsored by Horbury Dental Laboratories Ltd
17 Justin Sangare sponsored by Mtech
19 James McDonnell sponsored by Wetherby Whaler
21 Luke Hooley sponsored by So-Trak Ltd
22 Sam Walters sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
24 Luis Roberts sponsored by Wetherby Whaler
25 James Donaldson sponsored by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings
26 Corey Johnson sponsored by Heaton Wilson Roofing
29 Jack Sinfield sponsored by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings
31 Leon Ruan sponsored by Moortown
