Try scorer Fa'afili hitting top form for Leeds Carnegie

Fa'afili joined Leeds from Biarritz in 2009

Outside centre Henry Fa'afili believes he has started to discover his best form for Leeds Carnegie.

The Samoan international has started five of the last six games and scored three tries in the last two matches.

Fa'afili, who can also play on the wing, told BBC Radio Leeds: "I feel I am taking my opportunity and now getting to my best.

"Scoring tries helps. The forwards are really helping the backs out by producing some great ball."

"That's benefiting me and the other boys. It makes our job much easier."

Fa'afili's brace in the the 46-6 win at Italian club Crociati in the European Challenge Cup increased his try tally to four for the season.

It is a far cry from the start of the campaign when he only managed two starts on the wing in Leeds' opening nine games.

"At the start of the season I wasn't in the the frame, but that's the competitive element of sport," said the Fijian.

"I am now taking my opportunity. I prefer playing at outside centre as I like to get involved and try and create space for players outside me, and I'm really enjoying it at the moment.

Leeds head to Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership on Boxing Day with renewed confidence thanks to those back to back wins against Crociati.

However the Yorkshire side know that realistically they have to claim their first league victory of the season at Kingston Park if they are to keep their survival hopes alive.

Fa'afili added: "We set ourselves certain goals in the Crociati and achieved all of them, so we are happy with that.

"We still have a lot of work to do and lots to improve on ahead of Newcastle but I'm sure we will do that.

"The ambiance around the club is really positive. Obviously there is still room for improvement and things like that but the guys are enjoying playing rugby again now.

"We know it will be a difficult task this weekend at Newcastle but the players are looking forward to that challenge. We have to win at Newcastle. They are the closest team to us in the league and we need to beat them.

"These last two games have been very, very important for us as both a team and individuals so we will go to Newcastle feeling much better and just see how it goes."