Bradford v Leeds: Teams
Joe Vagana returns for the Bradford Bulls, as Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos head to the Grattan Stadium on Sunday.
By Phil Jackson
Last Updated: 31/08/07 4:02pm
Paul Deacon returns to lead the Bradford Bulls, as Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos head to the Grattan Stadium on Sunday.
The scrum-half has missed the Bulls' last three matches with a hamstring injury, but returns to boost Steve McNamara's side for the all important end of season run in.
Glenn Morrison will return to the pack, after filling in for his skipper at half-back, while prop Joe Vagana returns from suspension.
Despite defeat to the Huddersfield Giants last time out, the Bulls are all but guaranteed third spot in the league.
But McNamara will be impressing on his team the need to take a psychological edge into the play-offs, where the teams could well meet.
They also have the motivation of being able to dent their West Yorkshire rivals' hopes of claiming the League Leaders' Shield.
Tony Smith's Leeds side come into this game on the back of three straight wins against Harlequins, the Salford City Reds and Hull Kingston Rovers though.
And the Rhinos will be eager to gain revenge for their 38-14 defeat to their opponents at Headingley the end of July.
Influential scrum-half Rob Burrow returns to the squad after his rib injury, but fledgling winger Ryan Hall has failed to recover from a dead leg picked up against Rovers.
Jordan Tansey and Ben Kaye come into Leeds' squad, as the Rhinos seek to keep up the pressure on champions St Helens with just three games remaining in the regular season.
Bradford squad: Morrison, Burgess, McKenna, Newton, Kopczak, McAvoy, Evans, Halley, B. Harris, Cook, Vagana, James, Deacon, Platt, I. Harris, St Hilaire, Solomona, Feather, Lynch, Henderson.
Leeds squad: Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Thackray, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Tansey, Hall, Kaye.