Boss Brad Arthur insists he isn’t afraid to use teenager Zak Lloyd in Leeds Rhinos’ big games at the business end of the season.

Lloyd, 18, made his debut as a substitute in last week’s 46-0 win against Toulouse Olympique and has retained his place in the squad for this evening’s (Friday) second versus first Betfred Super League derby at Wakefield Trinity. With Rhinos holding a big lead against the French side, Arthur was able to give the back-rower a run for the final 20 minutes.

Tonight’s Sky-televised fixture, refereed by Liam Moore, is likely to be much closer this evening, but the coach insisted he would have no qualms over giving Lloyd an opportunity in a big game “purely because of what’s around him”. He said: “We’ve got a lot of senior players who can lead the way. I know the scoreline blew out, but that was a tough game for us against Toulouse - they really aimed up, they are a physical team and a big team, so he did a good job there.

“You are putting him in a team that’s well on top of their game, they know what their jobs are and so all Zak has to do is focus on the jersey number he fills and what that role is. He has already proven he can handle it physically.”

Teenage forward Zak Lloyd made his Leeds Rhinos debut against Toulouse last week. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Teenage forward Zak Lloyd made his Leeds Rhinos debut against Toulouse last week. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

Captain/centre Ash Handley is expected to return after three games out following appendicitis. Ryan Hall, who has missed the last four, is in the squad, but is likely to be given another week to recover from his foot injury. Fellow winger Alfie Edgell could be recalled after sitting out last Friday’s victory with a hamstring problem, but Ned McCormack (concussion) drops out.

Trinity could also recall a winger, with Lachlan Walmsley back in their squad after being rested last Saturday when they won at Catalans Dragons. England prop Mike McMeeken didn’t play in France because of a back problem, but coach Daryl Powell confirmed: “He has trained and if he comes out of that he should be available. We are okay, we’ve come out of the last game all right-ish, with nothing major, so there’s some calls for me and the coaches to make.”

Wakefield Trinity: from Jowitt, Scott, C Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Storton, Tevaga, Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, H Smith, Vagana, Walmsley, Sinfield, Myers, Rourke, Lolesio, Tate.

Leeds Rhinos: from Miller, Newman, Handley, R Hall, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, O’Connor, Holroyd, Watkins, McDonnell, Hankinson, Jenkins, C Smith, Cassell, Edgell, Lumb, Nicholson-Watton, F McCormack, Lloyd, Bird.

Referee:Liam Moore (Wigan). Kick-off: Friday, 8pm.