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Leeds duo return for semi-final

2012-07-14 11:36:12

Kylie Leuluai and Jamie Jones-Buchanan will return to the Leeds squad for the Challenge Cup semi-final showdown against Wigan

Kylie Leulua: Back in the mix

Back prop Leuluai and second-rower Jones-Buchanan were rested for last week’s victory over Hull, but they are expected to return to the starting line-up.

Leeds will have an experience squad with head coach Brian McDermott able to select 15 of the players who were involved in last year’s 28-18 Cup final defeat to the Warriors

“We’re in good form and hopefully we’ve got enough momentum behind us to get the job done,” McDermott told BBC Radio Leeds.

“Even if we’d lost our last four games I’d expect us to lift our levels for this game. This is going to be a big, dramatic game where both teams will be throwing everything at each other.

“What happened last time we met won’t have a bearing on this match. Our motivation is purely getting to the Challenge Cup final.

“To win the Challenge Cup with this club would make me feel immensely proud. It would be a special moment.”

Captain Kevin Sinfield says his players are ready to hit back following defeat to Wigan last year.

“I must say the lads are buoyant at the minute,” he said. “They’re bouncing around the training ground and looking forward to this one.

“It’s a different feel to where we were at five or six weeks ago so we’re ready for this. In my mind, I don’t think there was any question that we would turn it around.

“There was always the belief and, if you look around the group, with quality of player and the character we’ve got, you knew that we’d get it together soon.

“We need to lift in intensity, we’re aware of that. Wigan are running number one at the minute, they’re the best team in the comp.”

Wigan, meanwhile, will have top try scorer Josh Charnley, hooker Michael McIlorum and props Jeff Lima and Paul Prescott back in their ranks.

Charnley has recovered from a calf injury while the other three were rested.

“They’re a good team,” Warriors head coach Shaun Wane said of Leeds.

“Everything went well for us the last time we played them. They were ordinary that night but it won’t give me anything for this weekend’s game.

“They’ve added a bit to how they attack since then, with (Zak) Hardaker being at full-back, and I’ve shown my players lots of clips of him.

“This is a game I badly want to win. It would be the best moment of my life to lead this team out at Wembley.”