Match Preview | Leeds Rhinos vs Saracens Mavericks (NSL Rd 13)

Goal attack Kira Rothwell feels the confidence is starting to flow for her side as they embark on three away games in a row.

Back-to-back wins over Bath Strathclyde Sirens have catapulted the Mavericks back into the play-off hunt and Rothwell believes seeing the structures they want to impose come to life on the pitch has been the real catalyst.

“I think we’ve built a lot of confidence in the last couple of games, especially in our ability to push forward towards the end. We told ourselves in training that we can’t believe certain things until we see them on the field and I think we’re starting to get to that point which is exciting.”

The Mavericks face a Rhinos side that has seen a similar uptick in form in recent weeks, with Rothwell insisting her ability to stay on structure will be crucial on Friday night.

“I think Rhinos have grown a lot since we last played them and so have we. This week in training will be all about perfecting our structures as we know it will be a real test.”

The Rhinos sit just behind the Mavericks in the table and Rothwell feels they have improved right on the pitch, underscoring the importance of a strong defensive action in Sheffield.

“They have improved their ability to get the ball into Mvula in the circle and so it will be important to shut down their attack further up the pitch. Similarly in defence, they have strengthened their partnerships and we have looked at ways to open up their defense as well.”

With three straight road games to look forward to, the Mavericks will be on the road for the remainder of May. Rothwell explained that her team’s approach does not change whether they are playing at home or away, and stressed that having a consistent structure on match day was a very important part of their approach.

“The way we approach the week doesn’t change too much, whether it’s a home or away game. We focus on the specifics of attack and defense for the team we are facing. We try to make sure our routine on away days is as similar as possible to our home games, which has really helped.”