Leeds Rhinos have been forced to prepare for their most important match of the season against the Bulls in the absence of head coach Dean Lance.

Lance has been required to attend all three days of an industrial tribunal to defend himself against accusations of racial discrimination.

Winger Paul Sterling, who brought the claim, told the tribunal that the black players at Headingley felt they were being "ethnically cleansed" since the arrival of Australian Lance in time for the start of the 2000 season.

Assistant coach Damian McGrath insists, however, that preparations for Saturday's sudden-death Super League play-off at Odsal have not been hindered by the embarrassing allegations.

"Not at all," McGrath told a Super League play-off news conference at Odsal.

"It's been going on separately, and the players have just got on with the business as usual.

"It's not been an issue. The first most of the players knew about it was when they realised Dean wasn't there on Monday.

"We've got a large backroom staff. Dean has left instructions on how he wants things to go, and we've carried them out."

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington and conditioner Edgar Curtis have also given evidence to the tribunal.

Club officials say they will not comment on the case until its findings are made known.

Sterling, meanwhile, is likely to miss Saturday's elimination semi-final after injuring an ankle in last week's win over Castleford.

"If he's fit he'll come into consideration, I'm sure," said McGrath.

"The physios think he's no more than 50-50 at the moment."

Meanwhile former Australian scrum-half Glen Tomlinson, 30, a member of the Bulls' 1997 Super League championship-winning team, has rejoined his first English club Batley after being released by crisis club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

lThe future of troubled Super League club Wakefield Trinity, who have debts of around £3.5million, remains in the balance today after a meeting called to stage a rescue act was adjourned for seven days.

Attempts to launch a Creditors' Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which would prevent the club from being wound up, were put on ice when the major creditor, SGB Rovacabin, asked for more time to consider their position.