Leeds host St Helens in Super League with top spot at stake

Leeds welcome St Helens in the Super League in what is sure to be an explosive clash at Headingley, as well as a dress rehearsal for the Challenge Cup semi-final.

The Rhinos are odds-on with Coral at 8/13 to win the match, which would extend their lead at the top of the Super League standings. They currently lead their Cheshire counterparts by one point and coach Brian McDermott will be keen to put some breathing space between them both.

Ryan Hall, who is 13/2 to score first, will be a key player for the West Yorkshire outfit, while newly arrived Australian Mitch Garbutt could be handed his debut for what will be a blockbuster maiden match.

McDermott said: “There’s chances of him playing.

“We are still having a bit of a run with injuries and we could have done with him two or three weeks ago, when both Kylie [Leuluai] and Brett Delaney were out.

“We’re not out of the woods yet in terms of getting people back from our injury list and he has a chance.”

Meanwhile, Adam Cuthbertson and Danny McGuire could both return to the squad for Leeds after recovering from injuries, and are 3/1 and 5/4 to breach the in-goal area anytime.

McDermott continued: “With the game last Friday night being played in the wet, it had a slower pace to it.

“In terms of those freaky twists and turns in collisions, there weren’t as many of those.

“Let’s hope we’ve got a few more bodies available to us this week.”

Leeds chief Gary Hetherington is predicting a superb finale to the season starting with the visit of Saints: “It is our biggest game of the league season so far.

“Both ourselves and St Helens have been jockeying for top place in the table all season.

“It is a critical game in that regard and then we play Wigan the Thursday after.

“I think it is all shaping up to be an intriguing end to the season, at both ends of the table.”

For the visitors, Adam Swift is 7/1 to score first, while Jordan Turner who touched down last time out, is a decent 6/5 anytime price.