Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos - all the essential information.

Boss Richard Agar is looking for a positive response from his side in only their second game away from Emerald Headingley this year.

Here's everything you need to know about the big match.

Competition: Betfred Super League round nine

Opponents: Wigan Warriors

At: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

On: Sunday, August 16

Kick-off: 6.30pm

Coverage: Sky Sports

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

Opposition coach: Adrian Lam, 49, was initially appointed for one year, but got the job on a long-term basis after Shaun Edwards decided to stay in rugby union. Lam played for Papua New Guinea, Queensland and Sydney Roosters before a spell with Wigan from 2001-2004. He has coached PNG and been an assistant at the Roosters and St George-Illawarra.

Opposition star man: Leeds were chasing scrum-half Jackson Hastings last year before he signed for Wigan and they acquired Luke Gale. The current Man of Steel had an outstanding season for Salford Red Devils in 2019 and has every attribute a top-class half-back needs - vision, awareness, a rugby brain, pace, kicking game and passing skills.

Key battle: Leeds’ pack have to get on on the front foot, which won’t be easy considering their injury problems and below-par effort last week. Ava Seumanufagai and Matt Prior need to dominate against the likes of Joe Bullock, Liam Byrne and Mitch Clark, or the backs won’t get a look in.

Opposition form: Wigan went top of the table after a 23-22 win over Wakefield Trinity yesterday in their first game following coronavirus. They endured a nervy final few minutes after leading 22-6. That was the Warriors’ sixth win from eight games this year, including the expunged victory over Toronto.

Previous meeting: June 14, 2019. Betfred Super League round 18. Leeds Rhinos 14 (Tries Cuthbertson, Merrin. Goals L Sutcliffe 2, Lolohea 1), Wigan Warriors 23 (Tries Gildart, Partington, Clubb. Goals Hankinson 5. Drop goal Powell). Referee: Chris Kendall. Attendance: 13,105.

Last five results: Wigan WWWLW. Rhinos WWWL

Previous game: Leeds Rhinos 0, St Helens 48; Wakefield Trinity 22, Wigan Warriors 23 (both on Sunday, August 9, at Headingley).

Milestones: Rhinos’ Ash Handley will make his 100th Super League appearance. Liam Farrell needs one try to reach 100 for Wigan. Joe Greenwood’s next Super League appearance will be his 100th.

Super League head to head: Wigan have won 41, Leeds have won 29 and there has been four draws. Wigan’s highest score and widest margin was 68-14 at Central park in 1996. Leeds’ highest score and widest margin was 70-0 at home in 2005.

Team news: New signing Bodene Thompson is set to make his Rhinos debut following a move from Toronto Wolfpack. Konrad Hurrell (hamstring), Rob Lui (ankle) and Liam Sutcliffe (knee) could return from injury and Tom Holroyd is also in contention. Alex Mellor (knee) drops out. Wigan are without half-back Thomas Leuluai (ankle) who was injured against Wakefield last week and prop George Burgess will serve a one-game ban. Joe Greenwood, who had a spell on loan at Rhinos earlier this year without playing a game, is in contention for Wigan and other members of the 21-man squad who didn’t play last week are Chris Hankinson, Joe Burgess, Jack Wells, Amir Bourouh and Joe Shorrocks.

Other Rhinos injuries: Jack Walker (foot), Stevie Ward (head), Richie Myler (hamstring), Dom Crosby (knee) and James Donaldson (back).

Wigan Warriors: from Hardaker, Marshall, Hankinson, J Burgess, French, Powell, Isa, Farrell, Greenwood, Smithies, Bullock, Byrne, Manfredi, Clark, Bibby, H Smith, Wells, Havard, Hastings, Bourouh, Shorrocks.

Leeds Rhinos: from T Briscoe, Newman, Hurrell, Handley, Lui, Gale, Seumanufagai, Leeming, Prior, Martin, Dwyer, L Sutcliffe, Cuthbertson, Oledzki, Thompson, Evans, C Smith, McLelland, L Briscoe, A Sutcliffe, Holrold.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).

Next game: Saturday, August 29 - Leeds Rhinos v Salford Red Devils, 4.15pm at Warrington; Sunday, August 30 - Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons, 3.15pm at Warrington.

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Thank you

Laura Collins