Bulls v Rhinos: Teams
Bradford boss Mick Potter has dropped England international Paul Sykes for the midweek derby clash with Leeds.
Last Updated: 20/04/11 11:28am
Bradford boss Mick Potter has dropped England international Paul Sykes for the midweek derby clash with Leeds.
Sykes, along with Kyle Briggs, has been left out of the initial 19-man squad following the Bulls' 56-16 hammering at Salford at the weekend.
However, Potter can call on the services of Michael Platt after he missed the last two matches following a hernia operation, while Ah Van also returns to the squad after missing the Salford defeat.
Leeds will be without prop Ryan Bailey after he was hit with a one-match ban for his part in the brawl that erupted during the 38-6 defeat to Huddersfield last Friday.
However, Rhinos welcome back second rower Carl Ablett from his one-match suspension.
Prop Luke Burgess could come up against younger brother Tom for the first time with the latter poised to mark his 19th birthday with his fourth appearance for the Bulls.
Different
Burgess has faced another brother - England international and former Bull Sam - in the past, but says it will be strange taking on his younger sibling, with whom he lives.
"It will be a little bit different this time coming up against Thomas but hopefully he will be in there and playing and it will be an exciting game," said the 24-year-old Luke.
"I have always seen Tom and George as my little brothers - there is quite an age gap there, just over five years - so it will be weird to play against my little brother, even though he is a lot bigger than me.
"I am sure we won't even think about that during the game though."
The match will mark the 100th appearance of England wing Ryan Hall as the Rhinos look for their first victory in four games.
Bradford: Ainscough, Ah Van, Bateman, Burgess, Diskin, Donaldson, Elima, Hargreaves, Herbert, Kearney, Kopczak, L'Estrange, Lynch, Olbison, Platt, Raynor, Walker, Royston, Whitehead.
Leeds: Webb, Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Cross, Bailey, Kirke, Burgess, Watkins, Hauraki, Clarkson, McShane.
