Super League preview: Wakefield Wildcats v Leeds Rhinos

Taulima Tautai: Returns from thumb break for Wakefield

Kevin Sinfield: Back to boost the Rhinos

Leeds welcome back England captain Kevin Sinfield and are set to give a debut to a fifth teenager in the space of two months in Friday’s re-arranged Super League game at Wakefield.

Sinfield has missed the Rhinos’ last five matches with a fractured thumb suffered while leading England against the Exiles in mid-June.

That injury ended his run of 97 consecutive appearances in Super League but he will return to make the 499th appearance of his career, which includes 14 for Great Britain and 22 for England.

Coach Brian McDermott has left out hooker Paul McShane, which suggests a new role for his skipper, with Liam Sutcliffe set to continue at stand-off after making a big impression during Sinfield’s absence.

McDermott, who has blooded Sutcliffe, Thomas Minns, Jordan Baldwinson and Alex Foster during the club’s injury crisis, has brought 19-year-old James Duckworth into his 19-man squad as the replacement for centre Kallum Watkins, who injured an ankle in last week’s home win over Wakefield.

Promoted

Duckworth, who played for England academy in 2011, has been promoted after impressing for the club’s Under-19 side this season.

Meanwhile, McShane has been dual registered with Hunslet and is set to go into their relegation-threatened side for Sunday’s Kingstone Press Championship match against Leigh.

McDermott said: “Paul has not been selected for our game this Friday at Wakefield however it is important that he gets some game time this weekend.”

For Wakefield, coach Richard Agar has included forwards Danny Kirmond and Andy Raleigh in his 19-man squad after they recovered from knocks picked up in last Friday’s 20-18 defeat, while centre Dean Collis and forward Taulima Tautai are set to return from injury.

Tautai has been out of action since breaking a thumb on only his second Wildcats appearance against Wigan at the start of June.

Wakefield Wildcats: Aiton, Amor, Cockayne, Collis, Fox, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Lyne, Mariano, Mathers, Poore, Raleigh, L Smith, T Smith, Tautai, Trout, Washbrook, Wildie, Wilkes.

Leeds Rhinos: Ablett, Burrow, Clarkson, Delaney, Duckworth, Hardaker, Foster, Hall, Jones-Bishop, Keinhorst, Kirke, Leuluai, Minns, Moon, Moore, Peacock, Sinfield, Singleton, Sutcliffe.

Super League preview: Wakefield Wildcats v Leeds Rhinos