Play-offs Preview: Wigan v Leeds

It’s a repeat of the first ever Super League Grand Final as Wigan take on Leeds for a place in the 2012 showpiece.

The most successful club side of all time take on the most successful side of the modern era, as Wigan look to add just their third Super League title to an impressive honours list, which includes 17 championships, six premierships, 18 Challenge Cups and three World Club titles.

Between them, the pair have won the last five Super League titles, although four have gone to the men from Headingley, including last year’s 32-16 win over St Helens taking their tally to five.

Reeling from a third consecutive Challenge Cup final defeat, no team knows how to get through the play-offs like Leeds, who last season won the competition from fifth place.

Once again they finished in fifth place in the table, some 10 points behind table toppers Wigan.

The Rhinos will have to do it without stand-off Danny McGuire, who was suspended for one match following a reckless tackle in last weekend’s win over Catalan.

Leeds have won just two of the 10 matches they’ve played without McGuire this season.

In 51 previous meetings in Super League, Wigan have won 28, compared to Leeds’ 19.

The Warriors put 50 on the Rhinos at Headingley back in June, but went on to lose to the Yorkshiremen in the Challenge Cup semi-final a month later.

Leeds last won at the DW Stadium back in the 2010 play-offs, winning 27-26 in the year that Wigan went on to win the Super League title.

Wigan squad: Carmont, Charnley, Dudson, Farrell, Finch, Flower, Goulding, Hansen, Hock, Hughes, Lauaki, Leuluai, Lima, Mossop, Murphy, O’Loughlin, Richards, Smith, S Tomkins.

Leeds squad: Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Hardaker, Hall, Burrow, Leuluai, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Delaney, Bailey, Kirke, Clarkson, Hauraki, Griffin, Moore, Ward, Lunt.