Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers - Richard Agar set to shuffle his squad again for Super League derby battle

Leeds, who take on Castleford Tigers at Headingley this evening, have slipped to fifth in the Super League table, largely as a result of three recent defeats when Agar fielded an inexperienced line-up, before the Challenge Cup semi-final and either side of the Wembley showpiece.

Catalans Dragons are in pole position to claim the fourth and final place in the play-offs, if they can reach the qualification mark of 15 games, but Agar stressed Rhinos are not giving up, despite their daunting schedule.

After tonight, they face Wakefield Trinity in back-to-back games on Thursday and Sunday before a rematch with Castleford the following Friday.

“We know it is going to be tough, but we think at the end of it, if we can navigate it and put ourselves in with a shot, it will be an unbelievable achievement,” said Agar of his team’s play-offs push.

“We are absolutely ready for it.

“We know what it is going to take, but we are going to give it everything we’ve got.”

Agar has recalled his big guns for today’s game, with 16 of Leeds’ Wembley side of nine days ago included in his initial squad, but said he has not yet decided on his team to face resurgent Wakefield.

Giving fringe and young players another opportunity is an option, but Agar stressed: “We can’t predict that, it is week by week.

“What we are going to try and do is not back players up as much as we can and try and share out the workload.

“We think we have got a good enough squad to do that.

“I absolutely can’t predict what my side is going to be on Thursday or Sunday until we get through [tonight’s] game and see how we come out of it.

“We have got to beat Cas and that won’t be easy.”

A young Leeds team were defeated 40-8 at St Helens three days ago, but Agar said resting players following the Cup final was his only realistic option if Rhinos are to get through their fixture pile-up.

“Had I played the team that played at Wembley on Friday night, off a big week and an emotional game, I’d be putting blokes out there who hadn’t had sufficient recovery,” stated the coach.

“We were carrying injuries - Luke Gale and Richie Myler couldn’t have played and if Rob Lui had played he would not be able to back up [tonight].

“Matt Prior and Ava Seumanufagai were doubts as well and I know sending those boys to Saints would have flattened them off for the week ahead.

“We knew we had to put an inexperienced team out again to get the whole group ready for the next three to four games, because we don’t feel we have much margin for error in that.”

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