Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons - all the essential information

Leeds Rhinos return to Emerald Headingley on Wednesday for a crunch Betfred Super League showdown with Catalans Dragons.

It is fourth versus fifth in the table, but Rhinos will field an unfamiliar lineup as first-choice players are rested ahead of Saturday's Coral Challenge Cup semi-final against Wigan Warriors.

Here's everything you need to know to set the scene for the big match.

Opponents: Catalans Dragons.

At: Emerald Headingley

On: Wednesday, September 30

Kick-off: 6pm

Coverage: Our League app (for season ticket holders only).

Tickets: No admission for fans - the game will be played behind closed doors.

Dragons coach: A former Hull, Bradford Bulls and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats player, Steve McNamara, 49, was Bulls' coach from 2006-2010 and England boss from 2010-2015. He then had stints as an assistant at Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors before joining Catalans in 2017. He steered them to their first major trophy, the Challenge Cup, the following year.

Dragons star man: Catalans have quality across the field, but when he is on form centre Israel Folau is a world class talent, able to score tries and set them up for his prolific winger Fouad Yaha.

Key battle: It’s difficult to pick one, given Rhinos’ unfamiliar squad, but Jack Walker could return from a seven-month layoff at full-back and will need to be on top of his game to outplay the influential Sam Tomkins.

Opposition form: Catalans are fifth in the table, two points behind Rhinos with a game in hand. They have lost their last three games in league and cup.

Previous meeting: August 9, 2019. Betfred Super League round 25. Leeds Rhinos 48 (Tries Handley 2, Myler 2, Martin, Lui, L Briscoe. Goals Martin 10), Catalans Dragons 8 (Try Goudemand. Goals Gigot 2). Referee: Robert Hicks. Attendance: 11,336.

Last five results: Rhinos LWWWW. Dragons WWLLL.

Super League head-to-head: Rhinos won 23, Dragons won 11. Leeds’ highest score was 60-12 at home in 2006 (also widest winning margin, along with 58-10 away in the same year). Catalans’ highest score 46-16 at home in 2016 (also widest margin).

Team news: From the team which beat Hull KR last week, only Luke Briscoe and Adam Cuthbertson are included in Rhinos’ initial 21-man squad. Jack Broadbent, Corey Hall, Liam Tindal, Sam Walters, Jarrod O’Connor, James Harrison, Loui McConnell and Levi Edwards are all in contention for their Rhinos debut and it could be a second appearance for Rhyse Evans, Harvey Whiteley and Muizz Mustapha. Jack Walker and Cameron Smith are included after injury, Brad Dwyer is set to return from his bout of coronavirus and Konrad Hurrell and Bodene Thompson could feature following a spell in isolation. Alex Sutcliffe returns to the squad after a two-game ban and Callum Mclelland and Brett Ferres have also been called up.

Catalans’ squad is unchanged from the one named before last week’s defeat at Warrington Wolves.

Leeds Rhinos: from Walker, Hurrell, Dwyer, Cuthbertson, Thompson, Evans, Smith, McLelland, L Briscoe, A Sutcliffe, Walters, Mustapha, O’Connor, Broadbent, Hall, Tindall, Harrison, Ferres, Whiteley, Edwards, McConnell.

Catalans Dragons: from Langi, Folau, Yaha, Maloney, Drinkwater, Casty, McIlorum, Moa, Whitley, J Tomkins, Garcia, Bousquet, Davies, Jullien, Da Costa, Goudemand, Baitieri, Mourgue, Belmas, Kasiano, S Tomkins.

Referee: Robert Hicks. This will be his fourth time in charge of a Leeds game this year, with Rhinos winning two of the previous three.

Next match: Saturday, October 3, Rhinos v Wigan Warriors, Coral Challenge Cup quarter final, at St Helens (2.30pm); Sunday, October 4, Dragons v Wakefield Trinity, Super League (2pm UK time).

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Laura Collins