Leeds Rhinos name team for World
Club Challenge

Great Britain stand-off Danny McGuire has been cleared to play in Friday night?s Carnegie World Club Challenge against Canterbury Bulldogs at Elland Road.

The free-scoring McGuire has been troubled by a groin injury since the Tri-Nations Series last October but has played a full part in training this week and has been named at scrum-half in coach Tony Smith?s line-up.

?We have obviously had an injury doubt over Danny but he is fit to play and I am sure he will have a big impact in the game,? said Smith.

The side also includes McGuire?s Great Britain team-mate Gareth Ellis, who will be making his Rhinos debut at loose forward, with skipper Kevin Sinfield switching to stand-off.

In all, Smith has made three changes to the side which beat Bradford in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford last October.

Ellis takes the place of the departed Dave Furner, Andrew Dunemann starts at hooker in the absence of the injured Matt Diskin, and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who started the Grand Final on the bench, swaps places with second rower Ali Lauitiiti.

Rhinos coach Tony Smith was asked a few questions regarding Friday nights match;

HOW HAVE THE TEAM PREPARED FOR THIS FRIDAY?S GAME?

We have approached the game like any other, that was an important lesson we learnt in the build up to the Grand Final last year. We have obviously had an injury doubt over Danny McGuire but he is fit to play and I am sure he will have a big impact in the game. The players have lifted themselves in training over the past ten days and they are up for the match. We have to make sure that we take that into the game and do the things that have got us the place in the game.

WHO DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN DANGERS IN THE BULLDOGS SIDE?

Canterbury are a very passionate club with a successful pedigree and they have said in the Australian media that they are coming here to win the game. They have top class players throughout the side in the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Braith Anasta, Willie Tonga and Tony Grimaldi to name just a few and they also have some the best young players in the NRL who will be keen to show the Super League fans what they can do.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS GAME TO YOUR SEASON?

It is a massive game for the club and the City of Leeds. You could see the reaction of the fans after winning the Grand Final last year and to have such as prestigious game in our own city is extra special. We have earned the right to be in the game with our win at Old Trafford and now we must earn the win. Preparations have gone really well but we have to produce the right level of performance on the day if we are to give ourselves the best possible opportunity.

Leeds Rhinos Team: R Mathers, M Calderwood, C Walker, K Senior, M Bai, K Sinfield (capt), D McGuire, R Bailey, A Dunemann, D Ward, J Jones-Buchanan, C McKenna, G Ellis.

Subs: R Burrow, A Lauitiiti, B McDermott, W Poching