Sunday 19 March 2017 14:22, UK
A West Yorkshire derby between two sides who've been inconsistent so far this season.
Leeds finally delivered last week, thumping Catalans after Brian McDermott was told he had four games to improve results. But Wakefield have won two in a row, after losing their first two.
There's plenty to watch out for in Friday night's Sky Live clash and here are three head to heads that could settle it:
Ryan Hall v Tom Johnstone
An experienced England winger against a young pretender. They are likely to line up on opposite wings, but will they provide the try-scoring touch?
Ryan Hall is the role model for any Betfred Super League winger trying to earn a crust in the game. Both powerful and a terrific finisher, Hall is looking to get back to his best in 2017, his testimonial season. He's crossed for two tries already, only two less than last year's entire total and is providing McDermott with his usual strong carries.
Hall has made 536 metres, the second best in the Rhinos side, at an average of 7.44m a drive from 72 carries, highlighting his eagerness for work. A safe pair of hands under the high ball as well, whoever lines up against Hall will have a difficult evening keeping him in check as he aims to impress Wayne Bennett.
Key to Wakefield's 2017 campaign was keeping hold of Tom Johnstone in the off season. The winger enjoyed a terrific 2016, scoring 14 tries as Trinity made the Super 8s. And plenty of them were stunners as well. He's yet to find the whitewash in 2017, but made one by kicking through for Jacob Miller in the win over Salford last week.
Competition for England's wing positions are fierce, in this, a World Cup year. But despite being try-less so far, Johnstone's game is holding up in other areas. He's made 487 metres at an average gain of 8.85m a drive, the second best in Wakefield's side. That includes 10 tackle busts and one clean break. Leeds will have to shut down Johnstone quickly and don't allow him any space. He's already proven he can be lethal with ball-in-hand.
Danny McGuire v Sam Williams
Eyes will be on the half-backs on Friday as they aim to guide their side round the park. Danny McGuire's fitness is so important for Leeds. The captain missed large chunks of 2016 and it cost his side dear. Likely to start at stand-off, with either Liam Sutcliffe or Rob Burrow alongside him, McGuire is critical to how sharp the Rhinos are in attack.
He's got one try and two assists so far this season and has also put in 15 attacking kicks, more than any other team-mate despite missing the opening game and starting on the bench against Leigh. McGuire managed seven try assists in 13 appearances last season, but compare that to the treble winning season when he provided 27 assists and scored 13 tries in Super League. If Leeds are to fire, they'll need McGuire at his best as they look to build on that win over Catalans.
Wakefield are forming a promising half back partnership between Sam Williams and Jacob Miller. Miller leads the try count at the moment, but it's Williams who comes up trumps in the assist department, providing three so far. He kicked the winning goal against Salford, slotting a last gasp conversion of Reece Lyne's try, one of his 12 goals so far in 2017.
Williams was a winter signing from Canberra, but he does have Super League experience from his spell with Catalans in 2014. He'll remember his last trip to Headingley fondly, crossing for two tries, including a last-minute winner, in a play-off win to knock the Rhinos out. Will he deliver another match-winning performance on Friday?
Adam Cuthbertson v Craig Huby
Two big front-rowers with an eye for an offload will collide in the middle of the Headingley park on Friday.
Whisper it quietly, but Adam Cuthbertson looks back to his rampaging best. Leeds' results might have been mixed so far, but their Australian front-rower is certainly doing his bit. He's scored the joint-most tries this season with three, made the most metres with 604 and inevitably thrown the most offloads, a staggering 21, 11 more than any other Rhino and the best in all of Super League.
Throw in his eight tackle busts, two clean breaks and a team third-best 156 tackles and you have a front rower at the top of his game. Teams shut down Cuthbertson's offload last season, but if he can get his arms free, it provides Leeds with a massive threat getting runners free in the middle to make breaks. Liam Sutcliffe's match-winning try against Salford came from such a scenario (despite a forward pass in the build up) and Wakefield will have to be aware of Cuthbertson's threat.
Craig Huby is another front-rower with a point to prove in 2017. He played just eight times in an injury-hit 2016 for Huddersfield and moved on to their Yorkshire rivals this winter for a new lease of life. It's his third club in West Yorkshire and Huby has started life with Trinity in good fashion.
He's played all four games so far, making 295 metres and looking to offload regularly, topping Wakefield's charts with five so far in 2017. A hard worker in defence as well, Huby has made 98 tackles, the fourth best in Trinity colours. He built his reputation as a ball-handling prop in his formative years with Castleford. Will Chris Chester get this best out of him in 2017?
Watch Leeds v Wakefield live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Friday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.
