Leeds draft in retired hooker as victory search goes on

Hence the decision to strengthen the team made up predominently of young players that took the field in Llanelli last week and suffered a heavy loss in the LV Cup opener – Leeds's ninth straight domestic defeat dating back to last season's Premiership finale at Bath.

"It is important that we build some momentum this week looking ahead to our next three games in the Aviva Premiership," said director of rugby Andy Key, with away trips to Exeter and Harlequins, plus a home date with leaders Northampton, all on the horizon.

The need for positive momentum is pressing, as is the chance to avenge a defeat to Sale in front of the ESPN cameras and a shivering Headingley crowd last month that has to be regarded as one of the direst examples of attacking rugby in recent years, with both teams culpable.

"The last time we played Sale we produced our worst performance of the season and we have an opportunity on Sunday to put that right with a much-improved performance and the chance to secure our first home win of the season," said Key, of the 6-3 loss to their cross-Pennines rivals.

Both Leeds and Sale fans will be hoping for better fare in a competition that is regarded by few clubs as anything of importance, until the semi-finals are within reach. Defeat for Leeds and it will be curtains for them in the competition that still has two games to play.

Phil Nilsen starts at hooker for Leeds with Steve Thompson on England duty and Andy Titterrell out for five months after rupturing his ACL ligament. Leeds have had to name James Parkes among their replacements. Parkes, the former Gloucester hooker, retired two years ago but has been combining his role on the Leeds coaching staff with the occasional game in the A league.

Only James Tincknell, Christian Lewis-Pratt, Warren Fury, Phil Nilsen and James Craig remain from the side that lost at Llanelli.

Key said of the young players who featured last week: "We were delighted for Oli Stedman, Joe Barker, Craig Hampson and Chris Walker on their debuts off the bench and especially Dominic Barrow, who at just 17 did extremely well in the starting line up alongside another Academy product James Craig.

"But we have brought in a few more senior players this week as we look to develop our play for next week's trip to Exeter."