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Lodge set for Rhinos debut

Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brad Arthur has named his 21 man squad to travel to York Knights this Sunday, kick off 3pm.

Centre Jack Bird has been ruled out following concussion in last Thursday's loss to Leigh Leopards and he is replaced in the squad by new signing Matt Lodge, who will wear the number 31 squad number.

19-year-old centre Oscar Brown is included in the 21 man squad for the first time, replacing Ned McCormack in the wider squad whilst James McDonnell drops out from last week as he recovers from his pectoral injury. Jeremiah Mata'utia takes his place in the squad.

Leeds Rhinos won their only previous Super League match against York Knights (46-14 in Round 2) and have won each of their last six matches against newly promoted clubs in the competition.

York Knights have won two of their last three Super League matches at LNER Community Stadium, as many as they had won in their initial eight home games this season; they’re aiming to win back-to-back home games for the first time in the competition after beating St Helens on their most recent such outing.

Leeds Rhinos (33.7) and York Knights (33.2) have the best averages of run metres per set in the Super League XXXI. Leeds also concedes the fewest run metres per opposition set in the competition (27.8). Lachie Miller (Leeds) has made 150 tackle breaks in the Super League XXXI, the most of all players this season, while York’s David Nofoaluma ranks fourth (109); Miller made three try assists in the reverse fixture against York Knights on Round 2.

The game will be the first meeting between the teams in York in the top league since 22nd April 1986 when Leeds won 14-12 at Clarence Street with Neil Hague and Andrew Smith scoring the tries for the visitors and three goals from David Creasser capturing the win on a Tuesday night in the final game of the Championship season in front of 1,367 people.

As well as Bird and McDonnell, the Rhinos are still without Maika Sivo (arm), Keenan Palasia (foot), Max Simpson (knee), Danny Levi (neck), Ben Littlewood (hamstring) and George Brown (knee).

The squad in full is:

1 Lachie Miller sponsored by Nexa

3 Harry Newman sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants

4 Ash Handley (C) sponsored by Roxy Ballroom

5 Ryan Hall sponsored by Apace

6 Brodie Croft sponsored by Axis

7 Jake Connor sponsored by Bartercard

8 Mikolaj Oledzki sponsored by Pickups Self Storage

9 Jarrod O'Connor sponsored by Horbury Dental Laboratories

10 Tom Holroyd sponsored by West Riding Paper Services

11 Kallum Watkins (VC) sponsored by Industruct Limited

14 Chris Hankinson sponsored EV Autoship