Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR: Five talking points ahead of the Qualifiers clash

It is the sides’ second meeting in three weeks and Rhinos will be aiming to repeat their 24-20 away win in the final round of the regular Super League season.

Here are five talking points ahead of the game.

1: It is good to see Stevie Ward back in Rhinos’ initial 19-man squad, for the first time in 11 months. He has undergone three knee operations and surgery on a shoulder since being injured in the final Super-8s game last year, but resumed full-time training on Tuesday.

2: The luckless Brett Delaney drops out after suffering a dislocated knee against Featherstone Rovers last week. Brett Ferres is a doubt due to an ankle problem, but everybody else is fit and that has played a major part in Rhinos’ improved recent form.

3: Hull KR are Qualifiers specialists. They won all their seven matches in 2016 and opened with a win last week. Friday’s victors will be a giant step closer to securing a Super League place for 2017.

4: Rovers’ ex-Leeds contingent will all have a point to prove. Thomas Minns, Robbie Mulhern and Chris Clarkson are Rhinos academy products who may feel they deserved more of a chance and this game is a big opportunity for them to show Leeds’ management what they are missing.

5: Hats off to the Headingley ground staff. The famous playing surface has been reseeded and renovated in record time since the previous home game against Wigan less than a month ago.