Leeds ready for 'big' three weeks

Key (right) joined Neil Back at Leeds in the summer from Leicester Tigers

Leeds Carnegie director of rugby Andy Key believes the next three games will determine if they can go all season unbeaten.

Leeds face three tough away trips, to Birmingham & Solihull in the National Trophy quarter-finals, then high-flying Doncaster and Bedford in the league.

"This a really big and important time if we want to go unbeaten," Key told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It doesn't come much harder than Doncaster and Bedford away."

Leeds sit 13 points clear of Exeter at the top of National League One and have so far cruised through the Trophy rounds.

However, with injuries to key players piling up and games to come at fourth-placed Doncaster and then Bedford, who are third, Key is keen to stress his side cannot relax.

"We go to Birmingham & Solihull next," he said. "That will present a different and tough challenge and they have nothing to lose.

"But we do know the most important thing is continuing our winning run in the league and we look forward to the challenges coming up."