Leeds Rhinos will have two players back in contention for Friday’s huge derby at Wakefield Trinity, but another has been ruled out.

Skipper/centre Ash Handley has missed Leeds’ last three matches after having his appendix removed and rookie winger Alfie Edgell was a late withdrawal from the side which crushed Toulouse Olympique 46-0 on Friday.

Coach Brad Arthur confirmed: “Ash will be back this week. Alfie was in the team [to play Toulouse] at the start of the week – he just got a bit tight around his hamstring, but he has trained today and he is fine.

“He is only two games back [from a long layoff] and he has a pretty chequered injury past so we just thought it was safer to not play him.”

Edgell was replaced in the matchday 17 by centre Ned McCormack who made his first Super League appearance of the season for Leeds.

He failed a head injury assessment in the second half and is automatically ruled out of the game at Wakefield.

Winger Ryan Hall, who has missed the last four matches, is “touch and go” for next week, Arthur added.

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Winger Maika Sivo, hooker Danny Levi and prop Keenan Palasia remain on the casualty list, but the coach is hopeful Rhinos picked up no other major injuries last night.

Props praised after Leeds Rhinos’ latest win

Mikolaj Oledzki didn’t return after his opening spell and fellow starting prop Cooper Jenkins was also given a long rest.

Arthur said: “Mik has been carrying a few bumps and bruises. The guys in the middle of the park play tough for me every week and for their club and their fans.

“He has been carrying a bit, Cooper [Jenkins] has been carrying a bit, so where I can I try and share the workload and look after them.

“I gave Mik and Cooper a specific job at the start of the game, they delivered that for me and I was able to pay them back.”

Rhinos’ big win maintained their two-point lead at the top of the table.

Wigan Warriors’s victory at Leigh Leopards moved them above Trinity into second place, but Wakefield play their game in hand at Catalans Dragons this evening (Saturday).