Wakefield boss Chris Chester calls for unity
Chris Chester has urged Wakefield's fans to stick with his out-of-form side as they aim to get their top-four bid back on track.
Trinity, one of the season's surprise packages, were riding high in Super League on the back of six straight wins, but their play-off hopes have faded in recent weeks.
Last Friday's 36-6 loss at Huddersfield was Wakefield's fifth defeat in seven games and left them sixth in the Super 8s ahead of Thursday's visit of Leeds.
Wakefield are 9/4 with Sky Bet to win the game despite being at home, while Leeds start as odds-on 1/3 favourites.
"I understand the disappointment of last week," said Chester.
"From one to 17 the players are hurting, the staff are hurting because that was probably the worst performance since I've been in charge here.
"We've just got to make sure that's a one-off. I said after the game I can cop getting beat, but I can't cop getting beat on desire and that's what we lacked last week.
"The fans are massive and very, very important to us.
"I'd just like to say, stick with us. The guys are trying hard, they're all disappointed and want to put things right. We'll hopefully get to do that tomorrow night."
Chester vowed to wield the axe on some of his under-performing players after the Giants defeat and winger Mason Caton-Brown was confirmed as one of the casualties when the Trinity head coach named his 19-man squad.
Jacob Miller will start at half-back on his return from a broken leg, while Joe Arundel has been recalled at centre and full-back Max Jowitt is in line for his first appearance since early June.
Chester is hoping for a reaction from his team against the side that ended their winning run at Belle Vue in June.
Get Sky Bet's latest odds on Wakefield v Leeds!
"We're coming up against a very good team that are riding high in the competition and have played really well the last few weeks," he said.
"I'm looking for a much better performance than we've had the last couple of weeks and one that reflects the Wakefield Trinity of 2017.
"We can't dwell on the Huddersfield performance too much because these games are coming thick and fast.
"Play-off football is totally different to league football. We've got to try and find that extra 10 per cent that other teams are finding.
"The crazy thing about it all is a win takes us back into the top four. That's how close this competition is this year."
Leeds make the short trip on the back of an impressive victory over Wigan in their Super 8s opener.
The Rhinos are on course for a top-four finish, but Brian McDermott is expecting his second-placed side to face a backlash.
"There will be a reaction from Wakefield," said the Leeds head coach. "They've been in good shape this year and very consistent.
"Just recently they've blipped a little bit, especially last week, but it's in the locker for them. They don't have to dig too far down to the back of that locker to bring out that good performance.
"We're anticipating a good reaction from them."
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