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Powell will rely on experience for play-off

Dave Hadfield
Friday 27 September 2002 00:00 BST
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The Leeds coach, Daryl Powell, will bank on experience for the sudden-death play-off against Hull at Headingley tonight.

Powell welcomes back Ryan Sheridan and Willie Poching after illness and Matt Adamson from a month-long injury absence. He has also named Ben Walker at stand-off, despite continuing speculation that he will not fulfil the second year of his contract. This means that Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire, the teenagers who swung last week's game at Wigan, can hope for a place on the bench at best.

"It's good to get a bit of experience back," said Powell. "You need that at play-off time."

Powell says that the progress of his young players has been the highlight of the season so far. "But there is sometimes a danger of overexposure. There has to be a balance between giving them the experience that will help them improve and putting too much weight of expectation on their shoulders."

Hull, heavily beaten at Headingley twice this season, are still without Jason Smith and Matt Crowther, but welcome back Sean Ryan.

Wigan have named three of their recent absentees to play Castleford tomorrow, with the return of Julian O'Neill, Terry O'Connor and Andy Farrell. There is still a doubt about O'Connor's foot injury, however, and Ricky Bibey stands by.

The club has dismissed fears that their winger Jamie Ainscough could lose an arm because of a bone infection caused by an embedded tooth.

"It's been blown out of all proportion," said their coach, Stuart Raper. "He's been to the specialist and had good results and I think he'll be right to play next season."

Warrington have taken up their option of retaining the utility back Graham Appo for a second year despite the fact that he only played nine games in his first season.

The Rugby Football League has welcomed the news that Wembley will once more be available for major games from 2006. "It is extremely important for rugby league to be able to stage a showpiece event in London every year," said the RFL's executive chairman, Richard Lewis.

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