Sinfield aware of the need for Leeds to retain their discipline in heat of battle against Wigan

The bitter rivals meet in a hugely-anticipated semi-final at Headingley Carnegie to win the right to face St Helens at Old Trafford a week today.

However, following the epic play-off between the sides a fortnight ago, which Leeds edged 27-26 in controversial circumstances, there has been plenty of barbed talk during the build-up to tonight's re-match.

Ex-Wigan captain Phil Clarke made some inflammatory comments about Leeds player Danny McGuire's injury suffered in that game while Rhinos coach Brian McClennan and sidelined prop Jamie Peacock have both weighed in with heated views on the reaction of some Wigan players.

There is a feeling the contest could quickly explode but Sinfield – having steered his side to three consecutive titles – is in no mood to let tempers ruin preparations for what he accepts will be the champions' biggest challenge yet.

"We have to be focused," he told the Yorkshire Post. "We've talked about that coming into big games and it's really important we keep that.

"There has been a lot of peripheral stuff going on and, as players, we've tried to stay out of that this week.

"I don't think it will boil over. Probably not. Both sides know how important keeping a lid on their emotion is going to be.

"You have to make sure you give yourself as many opportunities to play well as you can and, ultimately, that means avoiding conceding penalties. If you don't, you'll get punished.

"We know the size of the task we're facing. Wigan have been the most consistent side this year and it's a vitally important game for both sides."

Leeds find themselves in the unusual position of being underdogs. Wigan – aiming for their first Super League title since 1998 – finished top of the table and won both league games although Rhinos dumped them out of the Challenge Cup and gained huge confidence from that recent win at DW Stadium.

Experienced Leeds have overcome Wigan on home turf at this stage twice in the last three years to reach Old Trafford although their foes are considered a far superior force under new coach Michael Maguire.

In a sign of the magnitude of the game, the visitors reportedly arrived at Headingley yesterday evening to inspect the ground and get a feel for today's encounter, showing they will leave no stone unturned in their attempt to reach Old Trafford.

Perhaps, with a Wembley-style walk around, they are building it up too much.

Loose forward Sinfield is set to switch to stand-off to cover for McGuire, the inspirational player whose loss many feel will be too big a burden to bear for the West Yorkshire club already without England captain Peacock.

"You can't replace Danny, just like you can't replace JP," admitted Sinfield. "It's impossible to replace people of that quality.

"However, what we can do as a group – as 17 players – is all try and raise our game together. We'd love to take this season on for another week."

If Leeds are going to extend their dominance of the title, the England star insists it will not be because Wigan wilt under the pressure of expectation.

"They have got too many good players to freeze," said Sinfield, whose enforced move from the pack will be offset by the return of second-row Jamie Jones-Buchanan, fit for the first time since getting injured in last month's Challenge Cup final loss against Warrington.