Senior set for milestone

Leeds centre reaches 500 appearances and is still at the peak of his powers

(GETTY IMAGES)

Keith Senior becomes a modern-day rarity today when he reaches the milestone of 500 appearances. Senior is in Leeds' team to play at Hull, his 305th game for the Rhinos, following his 140 for Sheffield Eagles and 55 in representative matches.

Now 33, there are no signs of his powers waning as Ryan Hall, his winger with Leeds this season, would testify. Largely thanks to opportunities provided by Senior, Hall is the game's leading try-scorer with 19 in all competitions so far.

At the KC Stadium this evening, the Rhinos will be without their Kiwi full-back, Brent Webb, who has failed to recover from the neck injury that forced him off the field against Bradford last week.

Lee Smith will move from centre to cover for Webb, whose place in the squad is taken by Mike Ratu, the third generation of the Fijian rugby league family, who has been in eye-catching form with the reserves. Matt Diskin is also fit to resume.

Typically for them this season, Hull have fresh injury problems. Their full-back, Motu Tony, has needed surgery this week after an infection in his foot and ankle following an insect bite. Hull have decided against bringing Craig Hall back from his loan at Widnes to fill what has been a problematic position all season. Either Richard Horne or Chris Thorman will drop back to occupy the role.

Their coach Richard Agar is also without the former Leeds forward, Ewan Dowes, with a knock picked up in training.

Celtic Crusaders, at home to Warrington, are likely to have Marshall Chalk at full-back after a rapid recovery from the broken jaw he suffered at the end of April. That helps to balance the bad news that Darren Mapp, their Players' Player of the Year for the last two seasons, will not play again in this campaign after surgery on his torn pectoral muscle.

The Wolves again include Brian Carney, after his 18th man water-carrying duties last week. More significantly, the Irish winger played a full game in the reserves, which his coach, Tony Smith, says he needed before being considered for his first-team debut. Lee Briers, who signed a one-year contract extension this week, is still out with a hamstring pull.

The Catalan Dragons, at home to the faltering Hull KR, have immediately included Sébastien Martins, the French Test prop signed on loan from Pia this week.