Can Jon Goodridge and Leeds finish the job? © Getty Images

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News: Leeds ready for million pound game

Matches: Leeds Tykes 12 - 10 Worcester Warriors

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: England | Leeds Tykes | Worcester Warriors

While the race for the post-season and a place in next season's Heineken Cup is set to go down to the wire, the battle at the other end of the table could reach a dramatic conclusion on Sunday at Headingley where resurgent Leeds take on basement side Worcester.

Defeat for the Warriors would see them relegated from the Premiership and bring an end to their six-year stay in English rugby's top flight but a win or a draw would see them live to fight another day. In contrast, victory for Leeds would see them cement their Premiership status and secure their financial future. Leeds coach Neil Back has proclaimed that keeping the side up would constitute a bigger achievement than winning the World Cup with England in 2003, so the stakes are high.

Leeds have been amongst the form teams in the competition since the turn of the year winning five of the ten games in 2010 to move off the bottom of the table and into ninth place in the table. Having defeated London Irish in thrilling fashion last weekend the momentum is with the home side but they will need to handle the pressure if they are to pick off a Warriors outfit that again showed plenty of heart, but a lack of a cutting edge, in a narrow defeat to Wasps last time out. Worcester's hopes have been boosted by skipper Pat Sanderson's recovery from a stinger injury and the former England flanker will be a key figure.

Leeds captain Marco Wentzel this week reaffirmed his commitment to the club regardless of whether they beat the drop and the two men wearing the armband will undoubtedly need to lead from the front. Sanderson starts at openside but Tom Wood has failed to recover from injury in time to start, meaning that Kai Horstmann and Netani Talei complete the back-row.

Alex Grove is recalled in midfield and partners former All Black Sam Tuitupou, while Willie Walker will again look to put pressure on at fly-half. There is only one change to the Leeds side, where Kearnan Myall starts in the back-row in place of the injured Calum Clark. Scott Barrow and Leigh Hinton remain sidelined, allowing Luther Burrell and Jon Goodridge to start after scoring tries in the defeat of the Exiles.

"This is a huge game for us and we know what is on the line - we have had a few biggest games in the club's history over the last few years," said Worcester boss Mike Ruddock. "It is something that a lot of our players have had to deal with in the past, they have come through that test remarkable well and there is great team spirit here. Our fitness levels are good, our desire is fantastic and our spirit is superb. We have got good players and know we can win these games."

Speaking ahead of the eagerly-anticipated showdown, Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington has labelled the game as the most significant in the club's history. At the start of the season, Hetherington negotiated with Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation representing England's leading clubs, that should Leeds beat the odds and survive their first season back in the Premiership having won promotion last season, they would be accelerated to a full shareholder in the competition and gain equal funding as their rivals.

Looking ahead to Sunday's game, Hetherington said, "The win at London Irish sets up this Sunday's clash with Worcester as a massive game for both clubs. I think this is the most significant event in the clubs history given its importance and what is at stake for the future of the team and club. To retain our Premiership status, which has been our major goal since the start of the season, would be a remarkable achievement by the players and coaching staff and would provide the opportunity to go forward like never before.

"To achieve parity as a Premiership club and to be an equal shareholder is now within our sight and that would be hugely significant for professional rugby union in Yorkshire," added Hetherington.

Leeds: J Goodridge; H Fa'afili, L Burrell, S Rabeni, L Blackett; C Thomas, S Mathie; M Macdonald, A Titterrell, J Gomez, E Lund, M Wentzel (capt), K Myall, H Fourie, A To'oala

Replacements: P Nilsen, G Hardy, P Swainston, T Denton, R Oakley, A Gomarsall, J Ford, J Hepworth

Worcester: C Latham; C Pennell, A Grove, S Tuitupou, M Garvey; W Walker, J Arr; A Black, A Lutui, T Taumoepeau, G Rawlinson, G Kitchener, K Horstmann, P Sanderson (capt), N Talei

Replacements: C Black, C Fortey, O Sourgens, C Gillies, C Cracknell, R Powell, M Jones, D Rasmussen