Back sets target as Leeds hope that lightning can strike twice

Following tonight’s trip to Sale, Leeds host Exeter and then travel to Newcastle – a sequence of fixtures that sees them play the three teams directly above them in the table.

Two wins out of that pivotal trio of games would probably be enough to breathe life into Leeds’ relegation battle, yet despite his team having delivered only two wins in the previous 16 Premiership games, Back is giving his players no margin for error.

“The next run of games looks really encouraging for us,” said Back, given Newcastle – whom they trail by seven points – face five teams chasing play-off qualification in their remaining seven games.

“Looking at where our rivals sit in the Premiership, and who they’ve got in the coming weeks, I’d take our run of games any day.

“But if we want to stay in the Premiership we’ve got to win those games – starting at Sale.

“Minimum target is 12 points – there’s no room for error.”

Leeds sparked their survival run last season with a win at Edgeley Park. If lightning is to strike twice, they must tonight negate the twin threat of half-back duo Dwayne Peel and Charlie Hodgson, especially the latter.

Back witnessed England’s defeat to Ireland in Dublin last Saturday, when Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara kicked England into submission.

Back acknowledges the importance of cutting off the supply line to Halifax-born Hodgson, who is the Premiership’s all-time leading points scorer.

“It’s not just Hodgson’s ability as a No 10 and his world-class goal-kicking, but also his ability to manage field position,” observed Back, whose side have done a commendable job of quietening the 30-year-old in previous meetings.

“If we kick loosely to him and allow him to dictate and pin us back – as you saw O’Gara and Jonny Sexton do on Saturday in pinning the ball in behind England – then that’s what Charlie can do to you.

“He’s basically saying to you ‘go and play from there’. And you can’t.

“Sale have got some quality players. Peel and Hodgson, and with Mark Cueto back, are three key players.

“If we give them easy ball and time to use it, then they can dictate the way you play the game and can often be world-class at what they do.

“So we’ve got to deny them that opportunity.

“We’ve done it successfully at their place before, winning there last year with an outstanding performance that was the catalyst for many good things and we’re hoping for a repeat.”

Leeds have been bolstered by the return to the squad of Steve Thompson, the England hooker, who has played for the club only twice since the end of January due to his Six Nations’ commitments.

Back said: “Steve’s in good spirits, he’s obviously disappointed to have lost but Ireland played outstandingly well.

“Mentally, he’s in a good place. England, though they lost, had a good championship.

“Thomo is buoyed by that. He took his try well, took his chance and showed good pace. He was happy to get over.

“He’s a massive asset for us, and having him back is a big boost for the squad because of his leadership, his experience and his influence in training.

“Thomo is key to our progression.”

Back has named both flanker Kearnan Myall and centre Luther Burrell in his starting XV, despite both players having signed pre-contract terms with Sale for next season.

Back confessed it had crossed his mind to leave the duo out, but added: “Both of them came up to me and said they wanted to play against Sale, and ‘don’t be concerned about my commitment to the Leeds shirt’.

“Without any prompt, that was fantastically refreshing and shows the mentality of those two players.

“In my experience, players leaving a club want to leave on a positive note, they want to show and demonstrate that just because they’re moving on doesn’t mean there is less commitment to the squad and team.

“Without the team you don’t get the opportunity to move on, so I have no doubt they will give everything to the Leeds shirt on Friday.”

Marco Wentzel has shaken off a calf strain and will start while Scott Barrow has been ruled out for three weeks after undergoing a hernia operation this week.