Brad Arthur believes Leeds’s two upcoming away video games towards York and St Helens will present the best tune-up for a possible League Leaders’ Shield shootout with Wigan.
The two golf equipment are locked collectively on the prime of Super League on 36 factors with 4 video games of the common season remaining.
The Rhinos’ home slip-up against Leigh final day trip means they prime the pile solely on factors distinction.
“I think these next three games are really important, the third game being Wigan. It might get to the stage where that game will ultimately decide the result,” the Leeds head coach informed BBC Radio Leeds.
“We have some tough games coming up. York have been playing really well. They’re right in for the fight, they’re at home and they’ve got nothing to lose. They’ve done a really good job.
“They’ve been beginning their video games very well and hanging in there and making groups need to work actually exhausting to beat them.
“And Saints showed on the weekend (winning at Wakefield) that if you take them too lightly and they get a few players back…
“This is what we want. We must be enjoying robust video games to verify we’re prepared.”
Leeds, who entertain Hull FC in their final game of the campaign, have not won the Shield since 2015 whereas Wigan have won it three times in the past six years.
The Rhinos will travel to York on Sunday without Jack Bird who is working his way through the concussion protocols, but with new signing Matt Lodge set to make his debut off the bench.
The former North Queensland Cowboys prop arrived within the UK on Sunday.