Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Centurions: Keith Galloway determined to re-energise Rhinos' top-four bid

The Australian former Test prop missed three matches due to a knee problem, which required minor surgery, but has been named in Leeds’ initial 19-man squad to face Leigh Centurions at Headingley.

Second-row Carl Ablett could also be back after a knee operation and the return of two former internationals will lift a weary Leeds team who are aiming to bounce back from a shock 28-20 defeat at Widnes Vikings only four days ago.

Galloway, whose start to the season was delayed as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles, said: “My first game back was the start of the Easter period and I played three games in a week then so I know how the boys will be feeling.

“There’ll be a lot of sore bodies, but at least the whole competition is going through it.

“Hopefully I can bring a bit of energy and lift the boys up.”

He made his sixth successive appearance in Rhinos’ Ladbrokes Challenge Cup win over Barrow Raiders, but missed the Magic Weekend defeat by Castleford Tigers and the Bank Holiday games against Warrington Wolves and Widnes.

Galloway said: “The knee feels good.

“It was pretty much a case of just letting the wound heal and not get infected and then I was able to start running again.

“It came on out of nowhere – the knee felt really stiff one day and I was limping around. I had an MRI and there was a couple of large loose bodies in there. The next day I was booked in for an arthroscopy, it came out and it feels really good now.”

Rhinos have won only two of their last five Betfred Super League matches and the points dropped on Monday make tonight’s fixture – against the side second from bottom in the table – one they can ill afford to lose.

“Last Friday against Warrington was awesome,” said Galloway.

“It was probably the best performance the team has put in all year over the 80 minutes. To prevent a team scoring a point was awesome from our defence and our attack was really on it , but then against Widnes was a bit of a let down.

“We will try and make amends for that this week.”

Leigh will offer a similar challenge to Widnes. Both teams are desperate for points and Galloway added: “It just shows you can’t take anything for granted.

“You have got to be up for every game, every team’s strong. I remember watching the boys against Leigh earlier this year and it was a really close match.

“Every team in Super League is capable of beating you if you’re not on.

“When it clicks Leigh are a dangerous team.

“Hopefully it doesn’t click this week, but if they do hopefully we’ve clicked as well.”

Galloway is in his second Super League season with Leeds Rhinos having joined from Wests Tigers.

“I think it’s a really strong league,” he said.

“There might be some blow-out scores every now and then, but there’s a lot of tight contests as well.

“Before I joined Super League you probably think there’s two or three teams that are always at the top, but this year has proved that’s not the case.

“Before I came over Castleford weren’t as strong as they are and now look at them.

“We’ve got to try and get in that top-four at the business end.

“Every point we drop is not good, but if we can win most – if not all – of our games that’s what we need to do.”