Leeds have one eye on next Friday's World Club Challenge as they prepare for Saturday's Stobart Super League clash with Wigan, coach Brian McDermott has admitted.
The champions go to the Challenge Cup holders hoping to make it two league wins out of two but also aiming to take some momentum into their showdown with Australian premiers Manly, who arrive in England on Saturday.
"We're mindful of it," McDermott said.
"We know we will have to be very good against Manly so we're using these two games to get as many points as we can and also to try to get some form and momentum. We need to be in good shape for when we play Manly.
"Nobody is getting rested and we're not holding off. If it was round 25 and it was the Challenge Cup Final the week after I might be saying something different but we've only just got going.
"We need to build up as much momentum as we can so that we hit Manly with everything we've got."
With a fully-fit group, McDermott has been able to leave out two members of his Grand Final-winning squad and admits the competition for places is providing a huge bonus ahead of the world title clash.
"It's a massive incentive," he said.
"Everybody is jittery about who's going to get what shirt. They know if they don't attain the standards that we know they can consistently, we've got a deep squad.
"That's a great threat, I can't motivate like that. You can get motivational speakers in and take them on team-building exercises but you can't create better motivation than the thought that they're going to lose that shirt. It's the biggest motivation ever."
While the Rhinos began the season with a 24-16 win over Hull KR, Wigan are smarting from a surprise 20-16 home defeat by Huddersfield but McDermott is expecting a difficult test at the DW Stadium.
"I didn't think Wigan were far off," he said. "They were a bit ropy but they will be a lot better this week.
"We weren't happy with what we did last week. We know we're going to be better."
Warriors coach Shaun Wane, who is poised to give a debut to 20-year-old prop Tom Spencer after losing George Carmont and Liam Farrell from last week's team, is confident his players can quickly bounce back.
"It has been a tough couple of days," he said.
"The players were very hard on themselves, which you would expect.
"But I have got a really strong group mentally. Team spirit is fantastic and I am confident we will see a different performance this weekend."
Former St Helens and Bradford stand-off Leon Pryce will belatedly make his Catalan Dragons debut against Hull at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
The England international was withdrawn from last week's opening game at Bradford with a minor hamstring strain but will renew a half-back partnership with Scott Dureau that sparkled in the club's pre-season trial games.
"Leon's fine," explained Catalan coach Trent Robinson.
"He would have played last week if it had been at home but, with the flight and everything, I thought I'd give him another week.
"He'll add value to our team. I'm getting excited to see how he and Scott go at half-back."
Former Warrington second rower Louis Anderson will make his home debut while Robinson is able to welcome back French Test centre Jean-Philippe Baile, who missed the 34-12 win over the Bulls with a pectoral injury.
Hull will again be without new signings Aaron Heremaia, Brett Seymour and Eamon O'Carroll because of injury as they look to improve on last week's opening 20-20 draw with Warrington.
"We are disappointed to be missing three quality players but we have confidence in each member of the squad and their absence gives somebody else an opportunity," said coach Peter Gentle.
"Catalans are a very good side and we'll have to improve on our performance from last week to pick up anything from our trip to Perpignan.
"We took a lot of positives from our performance against Warrington, but there was a bit of sloppiness in there too and we will have to sort that out going into this weekend.
"The Dragons have a very physical pack and some real talent and flair in the backs so we will have to defend well and not hand them the ball too easily."
