Boss Brad Arthur is confident Leeds Rhinos will be battle-hardened when their play-off campaign begins next month.

Rhinos visit York Knights tomorrow (Sunday) for a game streamed live on Sky Sports+ and SuperLeague+. They travel to bogey club St Helens next Friday and finish the regular campaign with home games against Wigan Warriors and Hull FC. Wigan had the opportunity to knock Leeds off top spot for the first time since June when they played host to Wakefield Trinity last night.

Leeds have a far better points difference, but could need to win all their remaining matches to secure the league leaders’ shield and Arthur insisted: “I think the next three are really important - the third game being Wigan. It might get to the stage where that game ultimately decides the result, but we have got some tough games coming up.

Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

“York have been playing really well, they are right into the fight, they are at home and they’ve got nothing to lose. Saints last weekend showed [what can happen] if you take them too lightly - and they are getting a few players back. This is what we need, we need to be playing tough games to make sure we are ready.”

York began round 24 occupying 11th place on the table in their first season as a Super League club. Their seven wins include home victories against Hull KR and St Helens, which is an impressive achievement for a team receiving half the funding of most of their rivals.

“They have done a really good job,” Arthur – who is without five first-choice players through injury- said ahead of tomorrow’s game, which is sold out and will be refereed by Liam Moore. “I think all the new teams have. I know Bradford sit down at the bottom, but every game with those teams, they are in the game, they are fighting hard and they are a chance.

“You’re not going to the game as a spectator thinking they are going to lie down. That part of it has been really good. York have been starting their games well and hanging in there and making teams work hard to try and beat them. I think the three clubs have done a great job and it is good for the game, in my opinion.”

Sunday is Leeds Rhinos' first visit to York Knights' Community Stadium and the game is sold out. Picture by Bruce Rollinson/SWpix.com.

Rhinos have had a long break since the 20-16 home loss to Leigh last Thursday and Arthur insisted their form is positive despite that result. “We’ve been really diligent and pretty consistent with our routine and structure and scheduling,” he said.

“We knew this turnaround was coming - from Thursday until the Sunday the following week - and we planned to give them four days off. It would have been nice on the back of a win, but our performance last week was full of effort.

“It was a typical Leeds Rhinos performance in terms of we dominated field position and dominated every stat, but unfortunately we didn’t dominate the main one, which is the scoreboard. We had plenty of opportunities, we created plenty of chances, but credit to Leigh, they scrambled really well and made it hard for us to score points. It was disappointing we didn’t get the result, but we came away knowing [they only need] a couple of tidy-ups.”