Leeds v Bradford: Teams

At Millennium Stadium, Saturday May 3, ko 7pm, live on Sky Sports 2

Last updated: 2nd May 2008

brian mcclennan

McClennan: Could give a debut to his recent recruit

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Leeds could hand a debut to new recruit Eric Anselme when they take on Bradford at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

The French international has been included in the Rhinos' 19-man squad for the derby dust-up against their arch rivals.

Coach Brian McClennan has snapped up the 29-year-old on loan from Albi to help ease an injury crisis that has left him without several key players for the trip to the Welsh capital.

Forwards Gareth Ellis, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ali Lauitiiti are all sidelined along with centre Clinton Toopi.

With so many first-teamers missing, McClennan has been forced to blood some of the club's talented youngsters in recent weeks.

The influx of youth has certainly done the Rhinos no harm in terms of their form, with the reigning Super League champions currently five points clear at the top of the table.

They have lost just once in their last eight league and cup outings, a run that included a 44-2 demolition of the Bulls at Headingley Carnegie.

Raging Bulls

Bradford will be eager to avenge that heavy loss back in March and also maintain their recent upturn in fortunes.

Winger Tame Tupou is back in the squad to take the place of Ben Jeffries, who is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Props Chris Feather and Joe Vagana are also still injured but Sam Burgess will be in the Bulls pack and he could go up against his brother, Luke.

Steve McNamara has seen his team suffer just one defeat in six, the 26-12 result against Wigan last week moving them up to move up to fourth in the standings.

The Bulls have bad memories of travelling to Cardiff after they lost in controversial circumstances to Leeds last year.

A last-second try from Jordan Tansey, who replays showed had been offside when following up Kevin Sinfield's penalty had hit the post, gave the Rhinos a 42-38 win.

Leeds squad: Webb, Donald, Senior, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Sinfield, Scruton, Ablett, Tansey, Hall, Burgess, Kaye, Worrall, Watkins, Jones-Bishop, Anselme

Bradford squad: Burgess, Sykes, Hape, Morrison, Evans, Halley, Platt, Nero, Harris, Godwin, Tupou, Finnigan, Lynch, Tadulala, Solomona, Newton, Kopczak, Deacon, Langley