Leeds recall Vickerman and Biggs

NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE
Venue: Headingley, Leeds Date: Wednesday 8 April Kick-off: 1930 BST Coverage: Exclusive full match commentary on BBC Radio Leeds 774 AM, DAB and online at bbc.co.uk/leeds

Vickerman has been on international duty with England Sevens

Leeds have selected England Sevens stars Rob Vickerman and Tom Biggs to face Manchester on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Joe Bedford replaces Scott Mathie at scrum-half, centre Henry Paul will be captain.

Leeds have named an entirely new set of forwards from the ones that beat Moseley on Saturday.

Prop Fosi Palaamo makes his first start since November due to injury, while Phil Nilsen is named in the first XV for the first time since February.

Live - BBC Radio Leeds commentary

Wednesday night's game is technically a Manchester home game but is being played at Headingley due to the lack of floodlights at Manchester's Cheadle Hulme ground.

The original fixture was postponed on Saturday 10 January due to a frozen pitch and the game has to be played in mid-week as Leeds have no free weekends due to their run to the National Trophy Final.

Leeds know victory against already relegated Manchester on Wednesday and then a win over Newbury at Headingley on Sunday will see them crowned National League One champions and be promoted back to the Guinness Premiership at the first time of asking.

Leeds Carnegie director of rugby Andy Key told BBC Radio Leeds:

"We had to work hard for our victory at the weekend at Mosley and to hear Exeter had lost was a major boost.

"We know the right results against Manchester and Newbury are in our hands and we should do that.

"We were maybe guilty of concentrating too much on Moseley's threats and strengths and not enough on our game and how we should play.

"So against Manchester we will make sure we focus on our game and our strengths.

Leeds Carnegie: Goodridge; Armstrong, Vickerman, H Paul (Captain), Biggs; Strange, Bedford; Pala'amo, Nilsen, McGee, Lund, Denton, Boyde, Davidson, D Paul.
Replacements: MacDonald, Rawlinson, Murphy, Rowan, White, Brooks, Welding.