Leeds Rhinos' penultimate pre-season game takes them to East Hull as they make the trip to take on Hull KR. Rohan Smith has named as strong a squad as possible for the contest, with the only senior players missing being those unavailable due to injury.
Though Leeds play Hunslet next week, this is likely to be the last opportunity for the senior members of the squad to impress, with the game against Hunslet likely to feature more younger members of the squad. With that in mind, and places still up for grabs, we've taken a look at players who will want to give Smtih something to think about ahead of the Super League opener with Warrington Wolves.
Sam Walters
It's clear to see by now that Walters' days as a back-rower are over and instead, his future is as a prop. The young forward has almost exclusively been used in the middle and will be competing for a spot there this season.
Read more: Leeds Rhinos at full throttle with David Fusitu'a set for new position against Hull KR
With Mikolaj Oledzki injured for the opening rounds, there is an opportunity for everyone to step up and Walters is included in that. Smith has largely run with four middles and on Sunday, five will play. Five doesn't go into four and one of Zane Tetevano, Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd, Justin Sangare and Walters are likely to miss out against Warrington.
Only Smith knows his pecking but you'd suspect that Walters isn't nailed on to feature and to enhance his chances, he will want a big performance against the Robins to bolster his chances.
David Fusitu'a
No surprise here, but needless to say that Fusitu'a needs a productive afternoon at Craven Park. His first season at Headingley never really got going due to injury and the same can e said of his pre-season campaign, with this his first appearance of the year.
The reality is that Fusity'a remains first choice but the previous three games have seen a number of players, such as Luis Roberts and Levi Edwards, impress. Nobody's position on the team is safe and while you'd suspect his position is currently safe, it's been demonstrated that there are plenty of alternative options if he's not up to speed come round one. He'll want to reiterate that he is worthy of his place in the team.
Kruise Leeming
Let's be right, Kruise Leeming does not want to be an interchange. At the end of last season, that's exactly what he was. He will want that to change.
The battle for minutes between Leeming and Jarrod O'Connor is fascinating because of their contrasting styles of play. There's no getting away from the fact O'Connor was excellent at the end of last season but Leeming's talent is undisputed. Both will want to start against Warrington and this is the final opportunity to convince Rohan Smith. Leeming played well against Wakefield on Boxing Day but given O'Connor was getting the nod at the end of last season, you'd say it's a bigger game for Leeming.
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