Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos: Good news and bad news for visitors as squads are named

Rhyse Martin will captain Leeds for the first time. Picture by Leeds Rhinos.

Prop Ava Seumanufagai has been named in Rhinos’ initial 21-man squad after missing last week’s defeat by Hull due to a knee injury.

But Rhinos will go into the Betfred Super League round two clash without captain Stevie Ward who has concussion.

That could mean a first Leeds start for Alex Mellor who joined them in the off-season from Huddersfield and was a substitute in round one.

Ava Seumanufagai returns to Rhinos' 21. Picture by Steve Riding.

Seumanufagai’s inclusion in place of Ward is the only change to the 21 named last week.

Konrad Hurrell, who failed a head test last Sunday, has retained his place.

Rhyse Evans, Callum Mclelland, Luke Briscoe and Tom Holroyd, who were unused reserves, all remain in the squad.

Leeds’ autumn signing from Huddersfield Kruise Leeming is still recovering from a knee injury.

Stevie Ward has been ruled out. Picture by Tony Johnson.

Dom Crosby and Tom Briscoe (both knee) and Alex Sutcliffe (broken hand) are Rhinos’ other casualties.

Rhinos will be captained by Rhys Martin, who skippered Papua New Guinea in last year’s Test win over Great Britain.

Jordan Turner comes into contention for Giants in place of centre Jake Wardle after he suffered a fractured eye socket in the win at Catalans Dragons last Saturday.

Tom Holmes is also drafted into the 21 man squad and Oliver Russell, Innes Senior and Adam Walne are vying for a call into the 17.

Ashton Golding, the full-back signed by Giants from Rhinos in the off-season, remains unavailable because of a hamstring injury.

Huddersfield Giants: from Clough, Edwards, English, Gaskell, Gavet, Holmes, Lawrence, Matagi, McGillvary, McIntosh, Murphy, O’Brien, Russell, I Senior, L Senior, Sezer, Ta’ai, Turner, Walne, Joe Wardle, Wood.

Leeds Rhinos: from Walker, Newman, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Seumanufagai, Prior, Mellor, Martin, Dwyer, L Sutcliffe, Myler, Cuthbertson, Oledzki, Evans, Smith, McLelland, L Briscoe, Donaldson, Holroyd.

Referee: Liam Moore (Wigan).

Kick-off: Sunday, 3pm.