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Less equals more for Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McClennan
AS far as Leeds boss Brian McClennan is concerned, when it comes Rhinos-Bulls derby games, less is more.
Leeds square up to Bradford at Headingley Carnegie tonight, for only the second time this season.
The sides have met four times in each of the last two regular league campaigns and McClennan believes that has diluted the importance of one of the biggest showdowns in club rugby league.
The decision to increase engage Super League to 14 teams and to scrap derby fixtures at the Magic Weekend means Rhinos and Bulls will meet once at home and away this year and the Leeds coach insisted: "That's much better.
"It makes for a bigger match. After tonight, the only time we'll get to play them again is if we meet them in the top-eight and that makes it even more appealing I reckon.
"We've played them once away this year, they weren't in too good form leading up to that game, but they were able to rise up and beat us on the night. I'd like to think that part of why they did that was because of the derby rivalry.
"For us, the fact we have lost one against them means a lot. We want to rise up and really put in a good challenge against them this time."
Bulls have struggled this season, but successive wins before Sunday's home setback against leaders St Helens boosted their hopes of surging into the play-offs places during the second half of the year.
"They are improving," said McClennan. "They had a really good win a couple of weeks ago at Warrington, who are flying along at the moment.
"They gave Saints a good game, it was close for a long time, but Saints can go through those periods in a game when they can really put on the points, very quickly.
"Bradford are in pretty good form and it is going to be a really tough game."
Rhinos are aiming to build on a 48-14 win at Harlequins six days ago. That was their biggest score of the season so far, but McClennan feels a better performance will be required tonight.
"The first 15 minutes and the last 10 last week were poor," said the Leeds boss.
"It's fair to say Harlequins were off the ball on that day and they had a couple of key players – Rob Purdham and Luke Dorn – missing.
"We aren't kidding ourselves, we have still got a lot of room to improve and we have been here before this season – we've gone and put a score on the scoreboard, then everyone around us has got excited.
"We have got to make sure we fulfil our own expectations and we've not really done that. We have still got a long way to go, but at least the nose is pointed in the right direction."
Bradford coach Steve McNamara is looking for "the same again" following the win over Leeds at Easter.
"I think there will be a few more points this time," he said.
"It was 10-6 in April, but despite that scoreline there was plenty of drama.
"I think Leeds and Bradford games always provide that and I don't think this one will be any different.
"The competitive nature of the two clubs – the players, coaches and supporters - means that quite often these games go down to the wire.
"I think it is still a massive game for everyone involved, irrespective of league positions.
"We need to get out there and play really well from the start, stamp our mark on this game and continue it for the full 80 minutes."
McClennan will select from the 17 played who beat Harlequins, plus hooker Matt Diskin and prop Ryan Bailey, who both failed a fitness test before last weekend's game.
It will be Rhinos centre Keith Senior's 499th career game.
Bulls are without back-rower Glenn Morrison, who suffered a cracked rib in last weekend's game.
Hooker Julien Rinaldi (foot) is also ruled out and Wayne Godwin is not yet ready to return from a broken leg, but Paul Sykes, Michael Platt, Matt Cook and James Donaldson are all included in the 19 after not playing against Saints.
Tonight's match is not being televised live. Cash turnstiles will be open for the Carnegie Terrace and Western Terrace.
Rhinos' reserves face Bulls in a curtain-raiser at 5.45pm. The clubs' academy teams meet at Odsal tomorrow (1.30pm).
LEEDS RHINOS: from Webb, Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, L Burgess, Worrall, Watkins, Diskin, Bailey.
BRADFORD BULLS: from Halley, Sheriffe, Menzies, Nero, Tadulala, Jeffries, Deacon, Lynch, Newton, Scruton, S Burgess, Worrincy, Langley, Whitehead, Kopczak, Sykes, Donaldson, Cook, Platt.
REFEREE: Phil Bentham (Warrington).
KICK-OFF: Tonight, 8pm.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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