GARY Chambers is backing Paul Wood to be the perfect replacement for Paul Rauhihi when Wolves start a taxing run-in at Leeds tomorrow, Friday.

Wolves' last three games are against all of the top three - they host Hull on September 10 and St Helens on September 17 - and they will travel to Headingley without prop Rauhihi, who is serving a one-match ban.

Rauhihi was a revelation in Wolves' 44-16 home win against Leeds in May but Chambers believes Wood, whose form this year has earned him a place in the Great Britain squad, can fill his brightly-coloured boots.

"Paul Rauhihi was big against Leeds last time," said Wolves' assistant coach.

"He took control of the game against them but what you lose from him in the dominance in that side of the game, you make up with the leg speed and the options at the line from Paul Wood.

"He really causes the opposition problems with his leg speed."

Although they have beaten Leeds in the sides' last two meetings, Wolves have lost their last five games at Headingley, where the new Carnegie Stand will open tomorrow.

They will also be without Brent Grose, who will see a specialist to find out why his recovery from a knee injury is not going quite as well as hoped.

Richie Barnett is expected to come in on the left wing.

Rob Parker is likely to be a substitute after a month out with a cartilage problem, with Ben Harrison and Chris Riley competing for the final bench spot.

But Danny McGuire (shin splints) will not return as previously expected for third-placed Leeds, in a fixture that could yet be repeated in the first round of the play-offs in three weeks' time.

And Chambers knows the importance of producing a result, with nothing but tough opposition ahead between tomorrow and a potential Grand Final.

He said: "Every team has got to start hitting a little bit of form now and there's no better start than in a really fast game at Leeds.

"The tough run-in we have is good because we play well against the big teams. We've proven before that we're capable of winning these games.

"And they are all big games now because they are preparation games for the play-offs."

Wolves' 18-man squad: Stuart Reardon, Henry Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Toa Kohe-Love, Lee Briers, Chris Bridge, Chris Leikvoll, Michael Sullivan, Logan Swann, Mike Wainwright, Ben Westwood, Mark Gleeson, Paul Wood, Andy Bracek, Richie Barnett, Rob Parker, Ben Harrison, Chris Riley.

* Tickets for tomorrow's game are priced £15 for adults, £10 for concessions and £7 for juniors and are available at Wolfware or by telephone on 248888.

Rhinos v Wolves.

Last meeting: Wolves 44 Rhinos 16, May 1, 2006. Henry Fa'afili completed a hat-trick and Rob Parker crossed twice with Paul Rauhihi, Jon Clarke and Richie Barnett also scoring. Lee Briers kicked six goals. Away record versus Rhinos in Super League: Played 12, won 2, drawn 1, lost 9, points scored 217, points conceded 347. Coach: Tony Smith. Form guide - Rhinos' last five games: Wakefield (A) won 14-12, Wigan (H) lost 20-18, Hull (A) lost 23-16, Huddersfield (N) lost 30-12, St Helens (H) lost 18-14. Team for last match: Jordan Tansey; Scott Donald, Clinton Toopi, Keith Senior, Ashley Gibson; Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow; Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Matt Diskin, Jamie Thackray, Ali Lauitiiti, Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis. Subs: Ryan Bailey, Willie Poching, Nick Scruton, Ian Kirke. Team news: Chev Walker and Shane Millard may return but Danny McGuire (shin splints) and Willie Poching (knee) are out. Links with Rhinos: Richie Mathers had a brief loan spell with Wolves in 2002. Danger man: Ali Lauitiiti's skills are always a danger. Referee: Ben Thaler.

Results and fixtures.

Powergen Challenge Cup Final result: Huddersfield 12 St Helens 42.

Super League Round 26 fixtures for tomorrow, Friday: Leeds v Warrington (8pm), St Helens v Wakefield, Wigan v Bradford (Sky 8pm). Saturday: Castleford v Harlequins (Sky 6.05pm). Sunday: Huddersfield v Salford, Hull v Catalans.

Season so far.

February.

12 Salford H 6-24.

19 Huddersfield A 20-26.

25 Hull H 46-24.

March.

3 St Helens H 10-18.

10 Wigan A 24-12.

18 Catalans H 26-28.

26 Wakefield A 22-21.

April.

2 (CC4) London Skolars H 52-0.

8 Bradford A 22-18.

14 Salford H 6-22.

17 Castleford A 64-6.

23 Bradford H 27-4.

May.

1 Leeds H 44-16.

6 Catalans A 44-16.

12 St Helens A 22-34.

21 (CC5) Whitehaven H 46-2.

28 Castleford H 48-26.

June 4 (CCQF) Hull KR A 36-40.

10 Harlequins A 28-30.

18 Wakefield H 16-17.

23 Wigan A 12-30.

July.

2 Castleford A 26-52.

9 Huddersfield H 30-26.

15 Hull A 24-36.

23 Wigan H 22-20.

August.

4 Bradford A 22-50.

11 Salford A 34-35.

19 Harlequins H 28-22.

September.

1 Leeds A.

10 Hull H.

17 St Helens H.

Run-in.

SALFORD.

Huddersfield A.

Leeds H.

Harlequins A.

HARLEQUINS.

Castleford A.

Wigan H.

Salford H.

Play-offs.

September.

22 Elimination Play-off (A) 3rd v 6th.

23 Elimination Play-off (B) 4th v 5th.

29 Qualifying Semi Final (C) 1st v 2nd.

30 Elimination Semi Final (D) Winner A v Winner B.

October.

6 Final Eliminator (E) Loser C v Winner D.

14 Grand Final Winner C v Winner E.