LEEDS coach Brian McDermott is predicting a "cagey" contest against Hull in their Super League clash at Headingley.

The battle for the top four reaches a potentially pivotal moment tomorrow when all the dominant clubs meet, with leaders Castleford hosting third-placed Salford.

The second versus fourth duel at Headingley is also a rehearsal for the Challenge Cup semi-final between holders Hull and the Rhinos at Doncaster a fortnight later and McDermott believes that could have a bearing on tomorrow's game.

He said: "It will be an interesting one, how they play this game, the same as us. We're a bit cagey about what we do in this game compared to the next game.

"We've all got a style of play and maybe a special play that we'd like to use or a team that we'd like to field and you don't want to show your hand too much."

Both clubs expect to have stronger line-ups by the time they play off for a trip to Wembley, with Hull's mercurial half-back Albert Kelly missing tomorrow's game with a calf strain and Leeds missing England centre Kallum Watkins through concussion.

Kelly's place will be taken by Jake Connor, while Jimmy Keinhorst makes a timely return from hand surgery to deputise for Watkins.

McDermott considered sending Keinhorst to partner club Featherstone to gain match fitness but, with Brett Ferres and Liam Sutcliffe injured, opted to throw him straight back into Super League action.

Yet he is not expecting him to immediately reproduce the form that caught the eye in the first two months of the season.

McDermott said: "Jimmy gives us some options. He was starting to be a very good centre for us. I don't think we'll get that back straight away.

"We are going to cut him some slack, as long as he makes his tackles and carries the ball a bit. Our expectation is for him to get a bit of fitness and game time."

Meanwhile, Leeds are keeping the door open at Headingley for Danny McGuire to return to the club in an off-field role when he hangs up his boots.

The 34-year-old Rhinos captain has announced he will bring a 15-year playing career with his home-town club to a close at the end of the season but is not yet ready to retire.

Under chief executive Gary Hetherington, Leeds have a policy of giving their long-serving players the opportunity to stay on at the club following their retirement.

Kylie Leuluai took up a player welfare role two years ago when Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield opted to move on – and the popular McGuire is likely to find himself back at Headingley eventually.

Leeds coach McDermott says he did not try to persuade the former international half-back to change his mind about leaving.

"Nobody wanted Danny to move on," said McDermott. "He's got to that stage of his career where he feels it's the right time to move.

"To try and persuade him to stay would be messy. He doesn't want to be a coach, he's expressed a preference to go into the commercial department."

McGuire, who is not short of options, says he should know within a month where he will be playing in 2018 – with Hull KR shaping as a potential destination under Peacock, the club's head of rugby.

Peacock, Sinfield and Leuluai all bowed out on a high as Leeds completed the treble in 2015 and McDermott says McGuire's decision to leave could similarly provide the team with extra motivation.

"We went through this with Peacock, Sinfield and Leuluai in 2015 and for a period of time you just get on with it," said McDermott.

"As the season starts drawing to a close, it won't become the centre of our focus but it will be in there. I am sure it will have a bearing towards the back end."

McDermott says Hetherington and the rest of the club directors will have a say on McGuire's successor as captain.