Featherstone v Leeds Rhinos: McGuire could return to face Rovers

Captain Danny McGuire could return from injury when Leeds Rhinos begin their First Utility Qualifiers campaign at Featherstone Rovers on Saturday.
Danny McGuire.Danny McGuire.
Danny McGuire.

Leeds’ squad is their strongest of the season, with only Stevie Ward - who has not played this year - ruled out due to injury.

McGuire missed Rhinos’ final three games in Super League due to a foot injury, but has been included in their initial 19-man squad for the middle-eights opener.

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Brett Delaney is back in contention following illness and Joel Moon could return after a knee problem, with Jordan Lilley dropping out from the team which won at Hull KR two weeks ago.

Lilley has played on dual-registration for Rovers this season, but is not included in their initial squad for Saturday.

Rhinos’ 19 includes Ashton Golding, who was a dual-registered player in the Rovers team which beat Bradford Bulls two weeks ago to seal a place in the Qualifiers.

Anthony Mullally – another Leeds player – also drops out from Rovers’ squad.

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On-loan Leeds trio Jordan Baldwinson, Luke Briscoe and Josh Walters are set to play against their parent club.

Walters is available after injury and ex-Rhinos winger James Duckworth also comes into contention, along with Danny Craven - who has recovered from a hamstring problem - and Luke Cooper.

Rovers’ 19 includes forward Jack Ormondroyd, who will join Rhinos last year, as well as ex-Leeds players Kyle Briggs and Darrell Griffin, along with Ian Hardman, who works for Rhinos’ Foundation.

The 19-man squads are:

Rovers: Ellis, Duckworth, Tagg, L Briscoe, Ormondroyd, Thackeray, Channing, Griffin, Briggs, Hardman, Davies, Craven, Bostock, Cooper, Snitch, Baldwinson, Taulapapa, Spears, Walters.

Rhinos: T Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Galloway, Cuthbertson, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sutcliffe, Delaney, Singleton, Garbutt, Keinhorst, Achurch, Golding, Ferres, Segeyaro.