Rhinos look set for a successful raid

Super League
Sky Arena, 8pm Thursday

Wakefield lost all seven of their Super 8 matches last season and after Trinity collapsed to a 36-6 hiding at Huddersfield in the first round of this year's competition, a repeat capitulation seems a possibility.

Wakey were also hammered at home by St Helens in the final round of regular-season games but if any fixture will inspire them to stop the slide, it's a home match against neighbours Leeds.

Coach Chris Chester was absolutely furious after last weekend's thrashing by the Giants and he will expect a reaction against the seven-time Grand Final winners - as will the passionate Belle Vue crowd.

The second-placed Rhinos bounced back from their Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Hull when demolishing Wigan 32-16 at Headingley last time out and know that victory will put them five points clear of third-placed Hull and, more importantly, eight points clear of Salford and Wakefield, who are both just outside the top four.

Brian McDermott's boys are 1-3 to win at Belle Vue for the second time in 2016.

In June two tries from Tom Briscoe helped the Rhinos grind out an 18-16 success, an outcome that's been fairly typical of Trinity's home results against the Betfred Super League's big boys this season.

Wakefield were agonisingly beaten 25-24 by table-toppers Castleford, edged out 12-8 by Hull and narrowly defeated 16-10 by Wigan.

The recent thrashing by Saints could be an outlier as Trinity can also boast home wins over Warring­ton, Huddersfield, Catalans, Widnes, Leigh and Salford.

The 11-4 underdogs' chances are boosted by the likely comeback from a broken leg of playmaker Jacob Miller while the Rhinos have their own returning star in Rob Burrow, who has missed the last nine games following shoulder surgery.

Mitch Garbutt is also expected back from a calf problem for the visitors.

Most bookmakers ask Leeds to concede a ten-point handicap - something they have managed only three times on their travels this season - and in the circum­stances backing a narrow away win looks the way to go.

The 11-5 offered against the Rhinos getting home by a margin of two converted tries or less looks a fair price.

As well as the two-point triumph at Wakefield two months ago, Leeds have enjoyed successes by a single-figure margin at Leigh and Catalans in this year's Super League.

Recommendation
Leeds to win by one to 12 points
2pts 11-5 Paddy Power