McDermott putting fear to one side

Leeds coach Brian McDermott insists his team will not be motivated by the fear of failure as they aim to end their 13-year wait to lift the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The Rhinos go into their clash with Warrington as clear underdogs in their efforts to succeed where they failed against the Wolves in 2010 and Wigan 12 months ago.

Along with St Helens, Leeds have become the most successful club in Super League with five Grand-Final wins in the last eight years, but they have lost in five Challenge Cup finals since enjoying their last triumph in 1999.

McDermott's men are appearing in their 23rd Challenge Cup final - second only to Wigan with 29 - but they are aiming to avoid being the first club to suffer three consecutive final defeats at Wembley.

"I don't think it's unthinkable," McDermott said. "The best team on the day wins. We want to give it everything we can to try to win the game.

"Look at St Helens' history in the Grand Finals. They've lost the last five but they're still fighting, they're still a very, very good team and they're still challenging for honours."

Leeds have 10 survivors from their 30-6 defeat by the Wolves two years ago but McDermott, who was still in charge of London Broncos at the time, does not believe there are any lingering scars from that mauling.

"We're not going into the game scared that that might happen," he said. "We're not going into the game scared that we will lose.

"That is what sport is all about. When you fall, you pick yourself up and you go again.

"These are the games as a player or coach you are desperate to be involved in and there is a great buzz around the group this week as we look towards the Warrington game.

"We want to win because it feels great and that's what we're down here to do.

"If we get comprehensively beaten, we'll handle it. I am confident we won't get comprehensively beat.

"It will be a close game. 2010 hasn't been spoken about, it's not a form of motivation and we're certainly not shaking in our boots that it will happen again. It's a million miles away from where we are."

McDermott has finalised his line-up and told the players but will not will not announce it publicly until an hour before kick-off.

Richard Moore, who opted not to go onto the pitch at Friday morning's walkabout at Wembley, and Jimmy Keinhorst, are expected to drop out of McDermott's 19-man squad, with 18-year-old Stevie Ward set to start in the half-backs alongside skipper Kevin Sinfield.

Warrington's evergreen stand-off Lee Briers is warning his team-mates to prepare for a "full-on" clash at Wembley.

The former Wales international is one of 10 survivors from the Wolves' rout of the Rhinos two years ago but he insists that victory was harder than it looked and is expecting the rematch to be even tougher.

"It wasn't easy," he said. "We had to play to a game plan and we did.

"The scoreline is not going to be like it was last time, it's going to be a full-on game.

"I dare say Leeds will be up for a bit of revenge but we can't think about two years ago. We need to be in the moment and our preparation has been quality.

"We know it's going to be a really tough game and we're going to have to perform to the best of our ability to win it."

Briers will go into the game fresh after being rested for last Friday's game at London Broncos, where an under-strength Wolves side suffered a crushing 62-18 defeat.

Warrington coach Tony Smith has constantly rotated his squad this season and it has cost them wins but Briers says the players have total faith in their boss.

Adrian Morley and veteran full-back Brett Hodgson have also been rested from time to time to ensure they are ready to peak when it matters most.

"He probably needs to look after them two, they're older than me," quipped Briers.

"Tony has rotated us and knew it was going to happen at the start of the season.

"We believe he'll get it right and up to now he has. He's not the best coach in Super League for nothing. We all trust in him."