Paul all set for swansong

Salford's veteran New Zealander Robbie Paul is set to bow out of Super League against Leeds Rhinos on Friday night and is determined to go out on a high.

The 33-year-old former Bradford captain, who is joining Leigh next season, hopes to bring the curtain down on his glittering Super League career in style by toppling the reigning champions who need only avoid a heavy defeat to claim top spot going into the play-offs.

"Part of our motivation for the back end of the season was to create some upsets, to put some pressure on some teams," said Paul, who earlier this year made the 400th appearance of his club career.

"We can still upset some people. We have no pressure on us and we've known for some time that it was all about performing well and regrouping, putting some combinations together for next year."

Inspiration

The Reds can take inspiration from a 30-20 triumph over the Rhinos at Headingley in April - the club's only ever Super League success against Leeds - and Paul says that was a real highlight.

"That was a great moment for us as a club and we were able to kick on from there," Paul told Sky Sports News.

"That instilled real steel within one another and belief and it's those sorts of wins, that sort of success that instils the belief that you can do anything."

Salford boss Shaun McRae has also paid tribute to the star and feels he can prove the catalyst to get Championship side Leigh back into the top flight.

"I think that a player like Robbie Paul can be very instrumental in your approach and your aspirations to get back to the big time so I can't see why that wouldn't happen," McRae said.

Whatever the result, it is sure to be an emotional night at Headingley, with Leeds set to receive the League Leaders' Shield.