Leeds and Warrington tussle for Grand Final spot

Leeds come into the fixture following two losses against Wigan and Hull FC at home.

Looking further back, they closed out their regular campaign with three defeats in five matches.

Asked what it would take to reach the Grand Final, Leeds boss Brad Arthur said he is not worried about his side's inconsistent run of form.

"[We have to be] the best version of us. We've seen that plenty of times this year and we've played a lot of good footy," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"Our past couple of weeks haven't been ideal but it doesn't really count for much right now. It doesn't mean anything. All those past two games showed was a couple of things that we need to tidy up which we've done during the week around execution.

"But like the first 27 rounds, all that's done is put us in a position where we're 80 minutes away from Old Trafford so that's all we got to focus on."

Leeds last reached a Grand Final in 2022, however that achievement came off the back of Richard Agar's departure in March of that season, when Leeds had won just once in their opening six games of the campaign.

In stepped Rohan Smith, who eventually strung together 11 wins from 13 matches to take them to Old Trafford where they were defeated by St Helens - however it was an even more impressive achievement given their fifth-placed finish at the end of the season.

This year, Arthur thinks his side are prepared for the rigours of a post-season campaign.

"We're ready to go. We're nice and fresh and the best version of us, we know, is good enough," he added.

"We've got to find that and we've got to do it for 80 minutes."

For Warrington, they earned their trip to Headingley having beaten reigning champions Hull KR last week in their eliminator.

Matty Ashton scored a hat-trick of tries as they ran out 35-12 winners and that win is the culmination of what has been a consistent season for the Wire.

Whereas Sam Burgess' side have tailed off in the latter stages of the campaign during his reign, this season has been different.

Ultimately they were forced to settle for third place on points difference following their final game of the regular season and they finished the campaign with nine wins from their last 11 matches.

As for the reason behind their recent success - Burgess gave an unconventional answer compared to what you might expect from a head coach.

"As coaches we just stay out of the way. We don't need to overdo anything, we leave them to it," Burgess told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"We're staying pretty humble now. Hard work will get us where we'd like to go."

Having got through one knockout game of rugby, Burgess said their preparations to face a Leeds side they have already lost to twice this season, will go ahead as normal.

"They will be aware of that, they can't hide from it," he added.

"For us it's about going there and not giving them too much space and being clinical and playing our game."

Two members of the Rhinos' squad who will not take part will be captain Ash Handley and Lachie Miller.

Man of Steel nominee Miller has been ruled out ever since he picked up a hamstring injury in Leeds' defeat by Wigan earlier this month.

Meanwhile Handley - who had been filling in at full-back for Miller - is out of Friday's game with a back injury.

Centre Jack Bird also misses out with his own hamstring injury, meaning 20-year-old Fergie McCormack will make his his fourth career start - in a huge play-off game.

Despite these omissions, Arthur believes his side have utilised their week off well.

"We had a big session on Friday try to simulate a game as close as we could and then on Monday they bounced in and nice and fresh and looked fast," he continued.

"We've made the most of it and only time will tell. We need to make sure that we cash in on the opportunity that we've been given to have the 14 days."

Meanwhile, having missed out on a play-off spot in 2025, Warrington will not let that affect their performance when they take on Leeds according to Burgess.

"It's not part of our psyche. We're really focused internally at the moment," he added.

"I don't discuss it. They don't discuss it. It's business for us on Friday night and that's something that's working for us. So we're just going to stay in that vein."