The RFL

Hull KR break new ground tomorrow with their first appearance in the engage Super League play-offs and scrum half Michael Dobson insists they are not there to simply make up the numbers.

Rovers face a difficult tie against defending champions Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie but, after finishing in the top four, it will not be sudden death tomorrow and they are guaranteed a home tie in the next round, win or lose.

The new-style play-offs, featuring the top eight clubs, has reduced the advantage of finishing in the top two and Dobson believes the Robins can become the first team to go all the way to Old Trafford from fourth place.

“We’ve reached our goal in making the top four, which we set at the start of the year, and now the aim is to win the Grand Final,” he said. “That starts this weekend.

“We know they’re going to be tough but we know, if we play well, we can definitely give them a run for their money.”

Leeds, who are seeking an historic hat-trick of Super League titles, go into the game on the back of a five-match winning team and have won all six meetings with Hull KR since going down 22-20 in their first Super League clash two years ago.

Rovers’ own five-match winning run came to an abrupt end when they lost 24-10 at Wakefield Wildcats last Saturday, a result which cost them a third-placed finish, but Dobson is confident they can quickly re-discover their form.

“I don’t know what happened last Saturday, it was our worst performance of the year by far,” he said. “It definitely won’t be the same side that shows up this week against Leeds.

“Both times we have played them this year have been good matches and we had our chances at certain stages in both games to win. They’ve probably been the more composed side and got us in the end.

“Obviously it’s going to be tough at their place but we’ll have a good away support and we’ll be full of energy.”

All the momentum is with Leeds but centre Keith Senior, who returns to the side after completing a one-match ban, is expecting a difficult challenge from Justin Morgan’s men.

“Hull KR have played some great stuff this year,” he said. “They’ve been one of the form teams and they’ll have been disappointed to lose third position.

“That sets some challenges for them. We’ve had some great games with them so it will be a massive contest.”

While the Rhinos will be virtually at full strength with the return of Senior, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, skipper Kevin Sinfield and Danny McGuire, Rovers have a lingering doubt over full-back Shaun Briscoe, who injured a shoulder at Wakefield.

With Briscoe’s usual deputy, Ben Cockayne, also sidelined, Morgan may turn to makeshift hooker Daniel Fitzhenry for the full-back role.

The winners of the first qualifying play-off will earn a week off and a home tie in the semi-finals, with the losers playing a home preliminary semi-final next week against one of the winners of this weekend’s elimination play-offs.

Second-placed St Helens meet Huddersfield Giants in the other qualifier on Saturday evening, with Wigan Warriors and Wakefield hosting Castleford Tigers and Catalans Dragons respectively in sudden-death ties.

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