Kear admits that the Rhinos game is "the acid test" for his team but with six straight wins behind them and confidence levels running high, the Cats' boss is in an optimistic mood.

Kear said: "Leeds are the benchmark for everyone else but we feel that we have made a lot of progress.

"I will be able to put out the strongest team we have been able to field for a number of weeks. I will perhaps rest some of the young players and that is a luxury I haven't had for a while."

He added: "Leeds have got off to a great start and people have been waiting for them to have a blip but there hasn't been one so far.

"The Rhinos will be the team to beat this year but we are capable of beating anyone on our day."

Jamie Rooney returns to the squad and Ricky Bibey is back in the fold after serving a two-match suspension. Matty Dale is available for selection and Tevita Leo-Latu has passed a fitness test after sustaining a deadleg.

However, Adam Watene is out with a knee injury and faces up to three months on the sidelines after suffering a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament and cartilage tear in last week's Carnegie Challenge Cup victory at Barrow.

But Kear has been buoyed by the return of key players. He said: "I have had choice this week and we are getting quality players back."

The game at Headingley Carnegie Stadium kicks-off at 8pm.

The Wildcats' 19-man squad for the game is: Blaymire, Blanch, Martin, Atkins, Rooney, Brough, Drew, Sculthorpe, MacGillivray, Obst, Bibey, Wilkes, Gleeson, Leo-Latu, Grix, Golden, Moore, Bibb, Dale.

For more Wildcats news read Friday's Wakefield Express.