All set for the play-offs

McClennan: Wigan test

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Leeds coach Brian McClennan admits his side will have to be at their very best if they are to beat Wigan next week.

The fourth-placed Rhinos head to the JW Stadium for Sunday's play-off clash after a thrilling 18-14 victory over Hull on Saturday.

But the Rhinos struggled for long periods against a side reduced to 12 men for 71 minutes of the match, following Lee Radford's early sending off.

McLennan, who described it as a "match I'll never forget" admitted his side lacked cohesion but was delighted with the way they responded to their crushing Challenge Cup final defeat by Warrington seven days earlier.

"What we've been able to manage is to get ourselves in the top four and we have a good few days to get ready for the Wigan match," he said.

"They are playing fantastic football and we know we are going to have to aim up."

The three-time defending Super League champions knocked Wigan out of the Challenge Cup earlier this season en route to Wembley, but will be underdogs on Sunday against the minor premiers.

Play-off expert

Meanwhile, play-off expert Brian Noble guided Crusaders to a top-eight finish in only their second season in the Super League and is relishing the prospect of sudden death football.

The Wrexham club will be away to Huddersfield in Saturday's elimination play-off, hoping to at least emulate the feat of Catalans Dragons, who sneaked into the top eight last season and went within 80 minutes of Old Trafford.

Noble, who took Bradford to five consecutive Grand Final appearances before moving to Wigan in 2006, said: "I believe you can do anything from anywhere.

"Over the last 10 or 11 years, if you play well on the day, you win. It is cup football from now on. In essence, we had our first warm-up game because it was trapdoor football for us. If we didn't win (against Hull KR on Saturday), we were out."

Play-offs, Week One

All matches live on Sky Sports HD
Friday, Sept. 10:
Qualifying play-off: St Helens v Warrington, 8pm (winner through to qualifying semi-final in week three, loser at home in preliminary semi-final in week two)

Saturday, Sept. 11:
Elimination play-offs: Huddersfield v Crusaders, 3.45pm, Hull v Hull KR, 6pm (winners away in preliminary semi-finals in week two, losers eliminated).

Sunday, Sept. 12:
Qualifying play-off: Wigan v Leeds, 6.45pm (winner through to qualifying semi-final in week three, loser at home in preliminary semi-final in week two).