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Leeds Rhinos: Silent approach is perfect says Kevin Sinfield
Champions Leeds Rhinos have the element of surprise on their side as they bid for a third consecutive title.
Skipper Kevin Sinfield believes Rhinos are "flying under the radar" as public and media attention focuses on their championship rivals.
Victory at home to Bradford Bulls tonight would see second-placed Rhinos close to within two points of St Helens and open a three-point gap over Hull KR in the engage Super League table.
Sinfield, though, is happy not to be at the centre of attention, despite a run of five wins in six matches and successive victories over high-flying Huddersfield Giants and Harlequins.
"We can take a lot of confidence from the last two games," said Sinfield. "We've beaten two sides a lot of people were raving about and who were up there in the top-four bracket.
"We've managed to get two results and it was a decent performance down at Quins last weekend. We just need to keep building.
"We have gone under the radar a bit in the last few weeks and I think we can continue to do that.
"Not many people are talking about us and that's a good thing. We can continue to build on some combinations and that's really going to help us improve.
"We need to be so much better and we can be for sure."
The 48-14 victory at Harlequins saw Rhinos rattle up their biggest score of the season so far and Sinfield said they are going into today's derby in "decent shape".
He added: "I'd like to think we are getting there. There's a saying that you are only as good as your last game.
"We beat a very good side and we put 48 points on them down there, which I don't think many teams will do this year."We are building nicely and it's important at this stage of the year that everybody is fit and healthy.
"The squad is in decent shape and the young lads are putting their hands up.
"The coaching staff and our conditioner Jason Davidson have been very smart with us and at the moment there's only Ian Kirke (broken leg) and Paul McShane (shoulder) who are long-termers."
Rhinos are still smarting from a 10-6 defeat to Bradford – who have won only five other games this year – at Grattan Stadium, Odsal, on Good Friday.
Tonight's showdown is not being televised, but Sinfield insisted: "It is still a big game, these ones always are. Form and position on the league table goes out of the window. It is always a cracker.
"The county loves Leeds-Bradford derbies and we obviously have it in our memories what happened a couple of months ago.
"They were battered and bruised, but they turned us over.
"They have got some troops back now, so it'll be a real tough one for us.
"There's a lot of history in these games and it's two very good sides, loaded with internationals.
"We have got to make sure we are ready, perform as well as we can and make sure we do ourselves, the club and our fans justice."
Meanwhile, Rhinos' England skipper Jamie Peacock will be in the club shop at Headingley Carnegie tomorrow (noon-2pm) to sign copies of his testimonial brochure and replica shirt.
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Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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