Leeds Rhinos have been dealt a fresh blow after Cameron Smith was ruled out of tonight’s clash with Huddersfield Giants due to Covid.
Richard Agar had already been forced into several changes after losing Luke Gale, Konrad Hurrell and Rhyse Martin following last week’s win over Leigh Centurions.
Gale (knee) and Hurrell (foot) are unlikely to play again this year, while Martin picked up a one-game ban at Leigh Sports Village.
Smith was set to play a key role against the Giants but he misses out at Headingley, joining fellow forwards Matt Prior and Mikolaj Oledzki on the sidelines.
Callum McLelland is back from his head injury to partner Rob Lui in the halves, with King Vuniyayawa set to come off the bench after recovering from a similar issue.
Tom Briscoe moves into the centres to cover for Hurrell and brother Luke comes in on the wing, while James Donaldson starts in the second row.
Sam Walters earns a recall on the bench, with Corey Hall and Levi Edwards missing out from the original 21-man squad.
Leeds: Richie Myler, Ash Handley, Tom Briscoe, Harry Newman, Luke Briscoe, Rob Lui, Callum McLelland, Bodene Thompson, Kruise Leeming, Zane Tetevano, Morgan Gannon, James Donaldson, Jarrod O’Connor.
Bench: Tom Holroyd, Brad Dwyer, King Vuniyayawa, Sam Walters.
Huddersfield: Ashton Golding, Leroy Cudjoe, Jake Wardle, Sam Wood, Louis Senior, Jack Cogger, Will Pryce, Owen Trout, Nathan Peats, Oliver Wilson, Josh Jones, Joe Greenwood, Luke Yates.
Bench: Matty English, Oliver Russell, Sam Hewitt, Nathaniel Peteru.
