Danny Buderus is back in contention for Sunday afternoons 4:30 kick-off after knee surgery back in February, and his re-selecting will
force Matt Diskin to raise his form even beyond what has already impressed this season. Ryan Bailey also returns after missing out last
week to renew old 'friendships'. One absentee is Lee Smith who is recovering from a knee infection and that is likely to give Carl Ablett
or Ashley Gibson the chance to shine in the centres.
Bluey has named a strong nineteen as; Webb, Donald, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Lauiti'iti,
Sinfield, Diskin, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Burgess, Gibson, and Watkins. Of these I suspect that the last two names will be the ones to drop
out.
Saints will have to take on the Rhinos without Sean Long, and in the absence of Gary Wheeler, that means without a recognised kicker. Potter does welcome back Roby and Wellens though, who both missed out last week after suffering injuries in the game against Leeds a fortnight ago. With the obvious that Saints will miss Long, they still have an almighty nineteen to pick from; Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Meli, Pryce, Cayless, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Puletua, Clough, Frodsham, Fa’asavalu, Ashurst, and Armstrong.
So, SouthStand favourite Leon Pryce gets a run out, don't forget that the nation is listening.
Three Saints to watch;
Since Iestyn Harris was the last Leeds skipper to lift the Challenge Cup back in 1999 we have played the Saints on six occasions in this
famous competition. Most of those have been semi-finals, and the Rhinos have some way to go to redress the balance with just two
victories.
The last meeting was in last seasons semi-final at the Galpharm when the Saints were all over us for their 26-16 win. On 2004 the Saints won a fifth round game at Knowsley Road by
24-14, but who can forget the Rhinos outstanding injury time win at the then MacAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield back in 2003?
2002 and 2001 both saw Saints semi-final victories and the Rhinos only other win came in 2000 when we squeezed past by just six points.
Southstander.com Prediction
I have a good feeling about this one. The last time we lost to Saints and played them a fortnight later it was the night we lifted our
back-to-back Superleague title at Old Trafford. The game a fortnight was much closer than the result suggests and we are in for another
belter on Sunday with both sides more than capable of winning. Lets hope that both sides play at their best and we have one of the best
adverts for the game in front of a full-house and on national free-to-air TV.
Sundays forecast is for it to be cloudy and sunshine with a high of fourteen
degrees and a very low chance of rain. Ideal conditions for good open, flowing rugby.
The bookies have made the Rhinos odds on to win
this one and with some bookies you can still get 7/5 on a Saints win. Leeds are still offered at 3/1 to lift the trophy and you can get
Saints at 4/1. Try our new sponsors extrabet for a wide range of odds.
See you there, enjoy the game.
Oh, and go easy on Leon!
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