League: Manly confident over Leeds clash

Manly's Kieran Foran played in the Four Nations competition in Britain only a few months ago. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Manly coach Geoff Toovey has called on his battle-hardened troops to draw on their big-match experience in Saturday's World Club Challenge league clash against Leeds.

The reigning NRL premiers are on a hit-and-run mission in northern England with this week's match against the Rhinos coming only six days after their arrival.

Toovey was confident his players were up to mastering the wintry conditions against the Super League champions in front of an expected full house at Headingley Carnegie.

"They are very mentally tough and very experienced," Toovey said.

"Most of the players have played in those two grand finals in which we won [in 2008 and 2011].

"A very stable unit, a very experienced unit and a very confident unit."

Manly have the benefit of nine of their 20-man squad having played in the club's 28-20 victory over Leeds in the 2009 World Club Challenge at Elland Road.

Even Manly's relatively inexperienced halves combination of Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans played in the Four Nations competition in Britain only a few months ago.

With milder weather forecast this week, fears of a frozen pitch have eased after a fortnight of freezing temperatures. The covers came off at Headingley Carnegie on Monday although the Sea Eagles had to find a synthetic grass pitch to train on a few kilometres away.

The old-fashioned venue for the match, which is off the back of Headingley cricket ground, can provide one of the most intimidating atmospheres in league.

The 21,000 capacity ground has terraced stands and wooden seating but Toovey said the Sea Eagles were used to not feeling the love from opposition crowds.

"Manly teams are used to hostile crowds against us," he said. "We will rise to the challenge."

Toovey said winger David Williams, who missed last season's finals series with a neck injury, should be fit to return.

He said the former Kangaroos flyer had come up well following Monday's brief training session.

"He had to pass a fitness test, not only for his neck but he had a foot injury last month," he said.

"It's a big boost. David's a very confident player. It was a fairly serious injury and he's really excited to be back playing football."

- AAP