Do not get him mistaken; he has known since before June, when it was announced he would join Wasps, that Saturday, October 10 could be the date of his denouement and being Grand Final night, he certainly would not have wanted it any sooner.

The player whose emergence has coincided with his home-town club's most successful period of their history, has had plenty of time to get used to the idea and is undoubtedly excited by that prospect.

But it has done little to ease the looming sense the day is almost upon him.

"It has all come along a bit too fast," admitted Smith, whose rich versatility in Leeds' backline probably first alerted his union suitors.

"I haven't really thought about it being my last game. It will probably sink in afterwards.

"As for Wasps, (coach) Shaun Edwards has showed a lot of interest but we haven't spoken about where I will play yet.

"He's been really good and told me not to think about it until the end of the rugby league season.

"Winning at Old Trafford would be the perfect ending for me because I want to go out on a high. A couple of friends – Nick Scruton and Gareth Ellis – left last year like that and it would be brilliant if I could go out with three Grand Final wins in a row. There would be nothing better.

"Old Trafford has been good to me so far. Hopefully, it will again this year and it will be a fairytale ending for me."

Smith, 23, knows all about fairytales. His experience in Manchester 12 months ago was pure Hans Christian Anderson.

He may be classed as a centre now but Smith had spent the majority of 2008 on the wing until a late call on the eve of the final meant he would switch to full-back, the loss to injury of influential Kiwi Brent Webb a sizeable blow as the champions prepared to defend their crown against St Helens.

Any weakness Saints imagined the move could cause was swiftly erased, however, as Smith delivered an outstanding display in the driving rain, effortlessly dealing with every pressurised kick that came his way and returning the ball with a series of relieving runs.

Leeds ruthlessly unpicked Saints and Smith lifted the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man of the match.

Ahead of their third successive Old Trafford meeting, he recalled: "Brent Webb is a massive player and it was a kick in the teeth when he couldn't play.

"Brian McClennan told me I was full-back and I took it in my stride because I' d played there before. It was an exciting time for me. I played off the back of the forwards and came out as man of the match which was good, although the win was more important."

His commanding performance no doubt helped persuade Tony Smith to name him in his squad for England's World Cup trip to Australia soon after.

That fairytale turned dark with the national team's shoddy displays but Smith did score a hat-trick against Papua New Guinea and realises such experiences will only enhance him as a person.

It is the opportunity to seek new challenges which first attracted him to union, particularly moving to London, and he is undaunted by recent Super League players' brief and unsuccessful dalliances with the 15-man code.

Chev Walker (Bath), Karl Pryce (Gloucester) and Gareth Raynor (Leicester) have all tried and failed but Smith sagely insisted: "If you believe in yourself, you have to back yourself.

"If I went with the mindset that I was going to fail, then I would do. If I went with the attitude that I might not make it, then I wouldn't.

"But I think this decision is the right thing for me and I think I can do well and bring something different to union.

"And it's not true at all that I'm only going for the money. I am doing it for the experience and a change of lifestyle; London excites me and it's beautiful around the Wasps training ground.

"I was always going to play rugby union at some stage."

That is no empty statement. Indeed, Smith almost did not play Super League at all, having been spotted by England Rugby Union's coaches as a junior.

"I used to play union and it got to the stage at 16 when I had to chose between that and league," he explained. "I'd come to a bit of a standstill in league. I didn't get offered a contract by Leeds and then I had a trial at Bradford and they didn't offer me one.

"But Rhinos' Stuart Wilkinson gave me another shout and when they offered me a contract I had to choose between that and going on an England rugby union camp.

"In the end, I just thought I'm not going to get another opportunity to play for my home-town club, so I took Leeds up and the rest is history."

Smith has played his part creating history for the club, a fact obvious when asked about the good times at Headingley.

"There have been a lot, like last year's Grand Final and the World Club Challenges," he said. "But the best thing of everything has been the friends I have made at Leeds. Those friendships are bigger than any of the trophies I've won.

"I've grown up with a lot of them and it's going to be a massive wrench to leave but I'll only be three hours away and I'll get back whenever I can."

Brought up in Beeston under the shadow of Elland Road, he has made it clear he would like to help England get there for the Four Nations final on November 14.

It was widely believed his Wasps switch would start as soon as Saturday's events are over but Smith could first add to his six caps.

"If Tony Smith wants to pick me then I would definitely stay," he said. "I'm sure Shaun Edwards will be fine about it because you don't get too many chances to play for your country and I would be so proud.

"I don't think anyone would turn down that chance, especially on home ground.

"We have a good chance of winning the Four Nations."

Inevitably, discussion of his potential participation in Six Nations rugby will soon begin.

But while admitting it would be a "dream" to eventually represent England on that stage as well, his only intention is seeing another one come true in Manchester tomorrow.


Walker tips departing Rhino to make outstanding impact with Wasps

CHEV WALKER has plenty of experience ready to hand on to former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Lee Smith ahead of his move to rugby union.



However, he doesn't feel any of it will be required. That is one of the principle reasons the Hull KR centre is adamant Smith will be a rare triumph.

"We do chat but he's not come to me for any advice," said Walker, who spent an unsuccessful season with Bath after leaving Headingley himself in 2006.

"Smithy's a strong-minded lad. I don't think he'd go with it if he wasn't sure and he's one of those who could excite them in union."

The main problem for Walker during his brief foray into the 15-man game was he and his partner's failure to settle off the field.

"I know Bath is a city but – coming from Leeds – it was more like a village," he said.

"Lee's going to London so social-wise it's not going to be much different. He won't be looking for things to do."

Otherwise, getting to grips with union's countless rules is often a major issue.

"Learning the ruck and the game's finer little things is hardest on the pitch but Smithy will be able to," said Walker, who was the same age when he made the switch.

"He's strong, fast and probably has more to offer than me as he can kick as well. He's got a great boot.

"It depends where Wasps play him. At full-back, returning the ball back like he does, he will be outstanding."