Familiarity with tactics of Wakefield of no use to McDermott

The Super League champions have an impressive record over their West Yorkshire rivals, winning 29 of their 34 meetings in the summer era.

However, Leeds were resoundingly beaten 38-18 on their last outing at Belle Vue in July and also pushed hard in the play-off meeting between the sides last term.

“Wakefield have a formula for the way they play Leeds and it keeps working for them,” said McDermott.

“Whether they win or lose they have been competitive in games with us and I know they will do something similar on Friday night.

“The team that played St Helens won’t be the same one that faces us and we know we’ll be playing a team full of energy, enthusiasm and one that is ready for us.

“Wakefield always raise their game when they play Leeds.”

Depleted Trinity were swept aside 52-18 at Saints a week ago and are aiming to pick up a first win in five games, their chances of that aided this evening by the return of ex-Leeds second-row Ali Lauitiiti and former New South Wales State of Origin prop Justin Poore.

Leeds, meanwhile, are bidding for consecutive victories for the first time this season after a hard-fought triumph over Wigan Warriors last Friday.

McDermott’s planning has not been helped by seeing so many of his squad in camp with England until Monday and he admits to being frustrated by the inclement weather continually hampering their quest for consistency.

“It would be nice to get back-to-back wins,” he added.

“We’re still in the early stages of the season but with these weather conditions no one in the competition is really hitting their straps yet.

“That sounds like me sitting on the fence, but the weather is really affecting things in preparation and not just game day.

“All teams want to get some momentum going and if we can do that at Wakefield on Friday it doesn’t make our season, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

“After such a big game against Wigan it would be good to back it up now at Wakefield.”

Meanwhile, while seventh-placed Leeds look for that regular winning form they so desire on the field, off it their performance in the 2011-12 season rose to the club’s highest level in their 123-year history.

In the year to October 31, 2012, operating profit at the Leeds Cricket, Football & Athletic Company (Leeds CF&A Co Ltd), which trades as Leeds Rhinos, rose by £100,000 to £667,385 following a season that “virtually mirrored” the previous campaign and it also posted turnover of £10.7m.