Chief executive Gary Hetherington today refused to comment on speculation Rhinos are on the verge of signing New Zealand Test forward Frank Pritchard from Australian NRL club Penrith Panthers.

But he admitted Rhinos are scouring the market and he said he is confident of concluding a deal for a player in the near future.

Pritchard has been strongly linked with Leeds – who have already signed former Aussie Test captain Danny Buderus from Newcastle Knights for next year – despite being under contract at Penrith.

Hetherington would not comment about the 24-year-old second-rower, who has been coached by Leeds boss Brian McClennan at Test level, but he said: "There's no secret about the fact we are looking for a replacement for the squad, particularly for Gareth Ellis.

"There's a lot of work been going on behind the scenes for quite a long time now and we are hopeful of bringing that to a successful conclusion in the not-too-distant future.

"I would not comment specifically on any of the names who have been linked with us, but we are looking at the whole squad and there is a need to replace a player of Gareth's calibre."

Hetherington added: "In a sense we have done that with Danny Buderus.
"We are replacing one experienced international with another, although they play in different positions.

"We are looking at bringing another quality player into the squad, but at the same time we are mindful of players in contention for being promoted from within our squad as well.

"We are looking at quite a number of players who might fit our bill and be available, but it gets more difficult because we have got to bring players in who are better than the ones we can produce ourselves.

"We have already got a pretty strong squad for next season.
"There is a behind-the-scenes approach to it all, but we are pretty confident of a successful outcome."

Ellis will join Australian club Wests Tigers on a three-year deal at the end of this season.

Rhinos have named their 19-man squad for Friday's encounter at Wigan Warriors, with Kallum Watkins and Simon Worrall added to the 17 who were on duty against Castleford Tigers.

Wigan full-back Richard Mathers has been cleared to play against his former club Leeds after an RFL committee decided not to suspend him for a strike with his forearm in the win against Wakefield.

Rhinos 19-man squad: Webb, Donald, Senior, Watkins, Smith, Gibson, Tansey, McGuire, Burrow, Burgess, Diskin, Peacock, Lauitiiti, Leuluai,Scruton, Ellis, Ablett, Kirke, Worrall.

Meanwhile, Challenge Cup finalists Hull will have full-back or winger Todd Byrne back for Friday's engage Super League match against Harlequins.

The 30-year-old former New Zealand Warrior has been out for more than two months with a knee injury.

But has the chance to secure a place in coach Richard Agar's team to face St Helens at Wembley on Saturday week.

Prop Paul King, who has been out for almost five months with a broken foot, is also back, along with goalkicking loose forward Danny Tickle and Great Britain winger Gareth Raynor.

But Hull are still without half-backs Adam Dykes and Richard Horne, who will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness for the final, and former Leeds Rhinos prop Garreth Carvell.