Rhinos boosted by early return of injured star Ablett

The second-rower has not played since the second game of the season on February 5 when he suffered an ankle problem in the home defeat to Castleford Tigers.

It was feared he would be missing for eight to 10 weeks but Ablett is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and is fit to feature against Catalans Dragons today (5.30).

It is a further boost for coach Brian McClennan as the club's injury crisis eases having seen captain Kevin Sinfield make a successful comeback in Thursday's 20-20 draw with Bradford Bulls, helping the struggling champions avoid a fourth successive defeat.

"I am delighted for Carl," he said.

"He is a very important player for us and someone we have missed since he picked up his injury. Carl offers us options because he can also play at centre, as he did for us in the 2008 Grand Final, and is a very good second row.

"He has worked extremely hard with our medical and conditioning staff to get back ahead of schedule and everyone is delighted to have him back."

Leeds-born Ablett, 24, has featured in all three of the club's back-to-back Grand Final successes and will certainly bolster their aim to pick up a first win in five attempts today.

Catalans were destroyed 48-6 at rampant Huddersfield on Good Friday and lie second-bottom in Super League.

However, they defeated Hull KR in their last home game at Stade Aime Giral – only a second victory this season – and McClennan, with his own side still down in ninth, is wary of the threat they remain.

"We reviewed their game against Hull KR and there were a number of players missing from that match at Huddersfield on Good Friday which suggests they may have rested some guys to face us," he said.

"In Casey McGuire and Thomas Bosc they have two extremely dangerous players and we know Catalans well from playing them four times last season.

"We lost narrowly in Perpignan then and that is a bad memory for us."

Leeds suffered one of only six defeats last season – they have lost five already this time around – in Perpignan last June and also came close to a shock defeat against the Frenchman in the Grand Final play-off at Headingley.

"They have got a big pack of forwards and in Olivier Elima they have a player who can hurt you up the middle," added McClennan.

"This will be a big game for them at home and we need to be ready for that challenge, which I am sure we will be."

Catalans are boosted by the return of international forwards Remi Casty, David Ferriol and Cyril Gossard.