Woody
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 Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject: tonight |
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Wakefield coach John Kear will not be fooled by talk of a crisis at Leeds when the Rhinos visit Belle Vue for a crucial engage Super League clash on Friday.
The Wildcats, yet to lose under Kear, are hoping to claim a third successive win for the first time since last July on what could be a pivotal night in the intriguing battle to avoid the drop, with all four relegation-threatened teams in action.
Leeds, too, are badly in need of the points after losing their last five matches in the knowledge that another defeat would herald their worst run for 48 years and further damage their title credentials.
"They are obviously missing Danny McGuire and they are down on a bit of confidence but that isn't going to lull me into any false sense of security," said Kear.
"If you look at the games they played - they lost by one point at Cas, by four to St Helens and by two to Wigan - in all of those they didn't perform that badly.
"They could just have easily have won and, if they had won there would be no talk of what is going wrong at Leeds.
"We're just not buying into it. We're playing a very good rugby league team and we'll have to be at our very best to give ourselves a chance of winning."
Kear, still without the services of suspended captain Monty Betham, has named an unchanged team while Leeds coach Tony Smith recalls former Wakefield favourite Willie Poching, who has not lost at Belle Vue since leaving the club four years ago.
The Rhinos, who briefly topped the table six weeks ago, are now hoping to finish third at best after enduring their worst run for a decade.
"We are hurting a lot at the moment," admitted Smith. "We are a very proud organisation and a run of five defeats hurts a great deal.
"The only way for us to get out of this run of defeats is to continue to work hard and we are all determined to make sure that we finish the season in better form ahead of the play-offs."
Fourth-placed Bradford, whose hopes of overhauling Leeds suffered a blow with this week's two-point deduction for a salary-cap breach, aim to take out their frustration on Wakefield's main relegation rivals Castleford.
The Bulls suffered a surprise defeat at Harlequins last Saturday when they had a chance to draw level with the Rhinos and coach Steve McNamara admits there is a desire among his players for atonement.
"They tore into each other in training on Monday and they have continued in that vein all week," said McNamara. "They are still hurting, as I am, from the way we performed and they want to get that bad taste out of their mouths."
While Bradford are without Great Britain hooker Terry Newton, who has an ankle injury, Castleford coach Terry Matterson is able to bring back half-backs Danny Brough and Peter Lupton.
Both players sat out the Tigers' record 72-4 mauling by St Helens last Sunday through suspension and injury and McNamara expects them to make a big difference on their return.
"I am sure if you took Harris and Deacon out of our side, then we would struggle to create opportunities," he said.
"They have the half-backs returning and they have a lot creativity and strength in their side."
Huddersfield will be without full-back Paul Reilly, their longest-serving player, in addition to both their captain and vice-captain, Chris Thorman and Brad Drew, for tomorrow's match at Wigan.
The Giants, just two points above Wakefield and Wigan, could find themselves in the relegation spot if they lose for a third time this year to the Warriors, who have lost only one of their last eight matches.
A crop of injuries and anxiety over his team's future in Super League is something coach Jon Sharp could do without as the club fast approach the biggest day in their recent history, next Saturday's Challenge Cup final.
While St Helens boss Daniel Anderson, with one eye clearly on Twickenham, rests the bulk of his squad this weekend, Sharp must patch up his walking wounded for a crucial league game but he insists he is not looking too far ahead.
"We are focused on Wigan," said Sharp. "After that we'll focus on the cup final. There are too many pitfalls if you let yourself get distracted.
"If we go into Friday's match half-heartedly, you can guarantee we'll pick up injuries and knocks.
"We need to play at full speed, be totally committed in every tackle and every carry and keep our minds on beating Wigan."
Good look to the horny ones 
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