A potential league leaders’ shield decider may be looming next week, but coach Brad Arthur insists Leeds Rhinos aren’t looking beyond tomorrow’s (Friday) game at resurgent St Helens.

With three rounds remaining Rhinos are top of Betfred Super League on points difference from Wigan Warriors, who play host to an under-strength Hull KR side tonight. Rhinos have an advantage of 196 on for and against, which means they could lose tomorrow and still go into the final week as league leaders, if they beat Wigan at AMT Headingley in nine days’ time.

However, a Saints win would give Warrington Wolves the chance to move level on points with Rhinos when they play Toulouse on Saturday. With Leeds still able to finish anywhere from first to third, Arthur’s men will be throwing everything at this week’s clash.

“My senior players are really good at keeping everyone focused on one job at a time,” he stressed.

Chris Hankinson, second from right, celebrates after scoring during Leeds Rhinos' 24-16 win against St Helens in June. Coach Brad Arthur expects this week's rematch to be just as tough. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Chris Hankinson, second from right, celebrates after scoring during Leeds Rhinos' 24-16 win against St Helens in June. Coach Brad Arthur expects this week's rematch to be just as tough. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

“The coaches do a good job with that and we don’t talk about what might be or what can happen or can’t happen or what ifs? We just focus on what we are doing right now on a day to day basis, then a week to week basis.

“We have got guys in the background planning for what comes after, but the senior players just drive the standards daily and worry about this game, because they know one week in footy can be a long time and things can change. We go off the facts.”

While they have arguably the toughest run-in of the leading three sides, Rhinos’ fate is in their own hands and Arthur is happy with where they are at a crucial stage of the season and with players returning from injury. “We’ve got plenty to play for, we know we are in the finals [play-offs] and where we end up is still in our control,” he added.

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

“We have got a really big contest this week, which is what we are looking forward to. We are in control of what we get out of this season - as soon as we start to worry or drift or focus on what everyone else is doing, we take the focus away from what really matters, which is us.”

Saints, who have won their last four home meetings with Rhinos, seemed out of the play-off race three weeks ago, but successive victories have left them just two points behind sixth-placed Hull KR and Arthur knows they will be highly motivated for Friday’s game, to be refereed by Marcus Griffiths and shown live on Sky Sports. He predicted: “It’ll be a tough one and one we are looking forward to - exactly what we need and want.

“I think season-long form doesn’t mean anything at this time of the year. They have had two really good games, you can see they are high in confidence, they have been starting well and that’s exactly what we are prepared for.

“They have probably got a series of Grand Finals over the next couple of weeks. They are not going to save anything or wait until next week, they will be going after it.”