Brad Arthur believes Leeds’s two upcoming away games against York and St Helens will provide the ideal tune-up for a potential League Leaders’ Shield shootout with Wigan.
The two clubs are locked together at the top of Super League on 36 points with four games of the regular season remaining.
The Rhinos’ home slip-up against Leigh last time out means they top the pile only on points difference.
“I think these next three games are really important, the third game being Wigan. It might get to the stage where that game will ultimately decide the result,” the Leeds head coach told BBC Radio Leeds.
“We have some tough games coming up. York have been playing really well. They’re right in for the fight, they’re at home and they’ve got nothing to lose. They’ve done a really good job.
“They’ve been starting their games really well and hanging in there and making teams have to work really hard to beat them.
“And Saints showed on the weekend (winning at Wakefield) that if you take them too lightly and they get a few players back…
“This is what we need. We need to be playing tough games to make sure we’re ready.”
Leeds, who entertain Hull FC in their final game of the campaign, have not won the Shield since 2015 whereas Wigan have won it three times in the past six years.
The Rhinos will travel to York on Sunday without Jack Bird who is working his way through the concussion protocols, but with new signing Matt Lodge set to make his debut off the bench.
The former North Queensland Cowboys prop arrived in the UK on Sunday.
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