Super League: Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos preview

Warrington Wolves host First Utility Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos in a mouth-watering clash live on Sky Sports 1HD on Friday.

The resurgent Wolves go into the televised fixture sitting in fifth-place, seven points off the Rhinos, who themselves are a point ahead of nearest pursuers St Helens.

Warrington find themselves in good form – winning their last three games – and have also won their last four matches at home in all competitions.

In an added incentive, Tony Smith’s charges will be looking for revenge over the Rhinos after going down 12-18 at Headingley back in February.

But it will be tough against a Rhinos side who returned to winning ways with a 20-6 home success over Hull FC last time out.

Brian McDermott’s side had previously slipped to a narrow 18-14 defeat at Wigan, which halted a seven-match winning run in all competitions.

The Leeds boss knows a good start will be crucial at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

He told the club’s official website: “They’ve started to gather some momentum Warrington, they’ve started to get one or two performances back-to-back. They’ll be good.

“It’s an incredibly emotional place to go, especially when Leeds go there. The crowd will give their home team a fair bit of enthusiasm.

“It’ll be a big game. It’ll be a big start over there and I think the start will be important.”

In team news, the hosts are missing Ben Westwood, who begins a three-match suspension, while another second-rower, Trent Waterhouse, is out with a knee injury.

Jamie Peacock is back from injury for the Rhinos in the only change to the squad which beat Hull, with winger Ben Jones-Bishop the player to make way.

You can see all the Super League action on Friday from the Halliwell Jones Stadium live on Sky Sports 1HD from 7.30pm

Warrington Wolves: Asotasi, Atkins, C. Bridge, Currie, Dwyer, England, B. Evans, R. Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, Laithwaite, J. Monaghan, M. Monaghan, Myler, Ormsby, Ratchford, Riley, Russell.

Leeds Rhinos: Hardaker, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Leuluai, Peacock, Ablett, Sinfield, S. Ward, Delaney, Bailey, Kirke, Clarkson, Achurch, Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Singleton, R. Ward.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24412491

Super League: Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos preview