Wakefield Trinity v Leigh Leopards team news as star off-season recruit returns for hosts

Daryl Powell and Adrian Lam have both kept changes to a minimum ahead of Sunday’s clash between Wakefield Trinity and Leigh Leopards. The two sides will go head to head for the third time this season when Leigh make the trip across the Pennines to Belle Vue this weekend.

It’s a ground the Leopards won at in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals back in April, but they were comprehensively beaten by Trinity the previous week. As such, both sides will be looking to get one over the other on Sunday and strengthen their respective play-off pushes.

Wakefield sit seventh at the time of writing, behind the play-off pace on points difference alone. Leigh, on the hand, are fourth and would have the opportunity to move up a spot this weekend should Leeds Rhinos lose against Warrington Wolves on Saturday.

It’s arguably the most intriguing clash of the round then and both head coaches will be pleased to go into it with relatively consistent squads.

Powell has made just one change, bringing Jake Trueman back into the fold after seeing him overcome a back issue. The half-back replaces Thomas Doyle in the fold, with the hooker struggling with a groin strain at present.

It should be said that Wakefield will be hosting this round in support of Team Clarkey Boy in aid of Candlelighters, a trust that has been supporting Powell’s grandson Clarke through his battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

Lam has made just one change, too, with Gareth O’Brien coming back in following the head knock he picked up against Wigan Warriors last month, although it’s not clear at this stage whether the half-back will be ready to play against the Trin.

Jack Darbyshire is the man who drops out following his loan move to Rochdale Hornets.

Wakefield Trinity v Leigh Leopards team news

Wakefield Trinity: Max Jowitt, Lachlan Walmsley, Cameron Scott, Corey Hall, Tom Johnstone, Jake Trueman, Mike McMeeken, Liam Hood, Seth Nikotemo, Josh Griffin, Jay Pitts, Isaiah Vagana, Oliver Pratt, Mason Lino, Mathieu Cozza, Josh Rourke, Matty Russell, Jack Croft, Harvey Smith, Jayden Myers, Caius Faatili

Leigh Leopards: David Armstrong, Darnell McIntosh, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley, Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam, Owen Trout, Edwin Ipape, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Jack Hughes, Isaac Liu, Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis, Brad Dwyer, Keanan Brand, Andrew Badrock, Ben McNamara, Bailey Hodgson, Joe Ofahengaue.