Leigh put together a clever set of passes and make their first challenge on Wakefield.

They get to within the opposition 10 but Umyla Hanley is held up on the last tackle.

Just past 10 minutes gone and there's not much in this tie.

I said earlier that Max Jowitt collected a kick in fine fashion.

This time he slips and fumbles Lachlan Lam's lofted kick, but he manages to divert the ball backwards.

Great stuff from Wakefield who at one point look camped out in their own 10 with three tackles gone.

But they find a hole in the Leigh defence and race into the opposition end of the field. Lachlan Walmsley picks up the ball and tries to spot another gap to race in for the first try of the game but the Leopards just about hold him up.

Max Jowitt expertly receives a high kick from Leigh on the turnover deep inside the Wakefield half.

The hosts waste no time in getting upfield, mind.

Tom Johnstone receives the ball and tries to race in down the wing but he fumbles and carelessly knocks on.

Ryan Hall
Leeds Rhinos winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Both coaches must have been told in the week how crucial territory is in these play-offs games.

No-one playing in each others halves so far.

As you might expect, given his proximity to the sticks, Max Jowitt sends his kick through for an early two points.

Wakefield have been gifted the initiative by Leigh in the early stages, here.

Joe Ofahengaue goes in late on Wakefield half Mason Lino and he concedes a penalty.

It's in kicking distance, too.

Clumsy stuff from the Leigh man.

Wakefield receive the kick from the off and gain a fair bit of ground deep into the Leigh half before the turnover.

They leave the visitors plenty to do and they're forced to kick around about halfway.

Will we get an attritional 80 minutes in this one? There's no room for error tonight.

We've had fireworks before kick-off as the two teams came out onto the pitch.

Will we get some during the game?

Leigh get this eliminator under way.

BBC Local Radio

Don't fancy reading my ramblings tonight? Or do you want to enjoy them in tandem with a bit of radio commentary?

BBC Radio 5 Live are in position to take you through the action as well as the fine folks at BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Manchester.

There's an array of play buttons at the top of this page where you'll find all the commentaries you'll need.

Wakefield Trinity and Leigh Leopards have never reached a Super League Grand Final before.

But is this the year that changes? Daryl Powell has overseen a mightily impressive season at the helm at Wakefield.

Meanwhile, Adrian Lam has kept Leigh steady ever since their return to Super League - but can they get over the hill and seal a spot at Old Trafford after winning tonight?

Let us know your views using the Get Involved button.

And here's how the visitors line-up this evening.

Jack Hughes starts having been on the bench last week and replaces Louis Brogan.

Robbie Mulhern and Nathan Wilde drop out while Jack Ashworth and Issac Liu come in.

Leigh: Armstrong; Senior, Badrock, Hanley, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofhengaue, Horne, Trout, Alick-Wiencke, Hughes, Liu.

Interchanges: Brogan, Davis, Ashworth, Ipape.

Here's how Wakefield line up for tonight's Eliminator.

Caleb Hamlin-Uele is deemed fit enough to be on the bench having been optimistic of a return from his knee injury in the build-up to this tie, with Ky Rodwell also making his return.

Jayden Myers drops out after his HIA in last week's fixture against Leigh and Lachlan Walmsley comes in to replace him.

Wakefield: Jowitt; Johnstone, Hall, Scott, Walmsley; Trueman, Lino; Guler, Smoothy, Rodwell, McMeeken, Vagana, Tevaga.

Interchanges: Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Lipowicz.

Image source, SWPix

Wakefield Trinity are not the only club with investment and momentum heading into the post-season and their opponents on Friday have already broken into the upper echelons of Super League.

Since their return to the top flight in 2023, Leigh have rebranded as the Leopards and competed in the play-offs in each campaign since, as well as winning the Challenge Cup.

Leopards boss Adrian Lam knows the tie is so important because of how close they have previously come to a spot in the Grand Final.

"[We have] finished fifth, fourth, third and then back to fifth again this season," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"Two years in a row, people forget that we were 80 minutes away from Old Trafford and both at the hands of Wigan, who ended up being in that Grand Final.

"Maybe if we had a different path then things might have been different, but we've always been striving to be better to find a different path and maybe get to Old Trafford."

Image source, SWPix

For Daryl Powell, his Wakefield side have done much to turn around their fortunes during his tenure.

His arrival at the club, which coincided with investment from owner Matt Ellis, started the upturn as Trinity won the Championship League Leaders' Shield in 2024 and returned to Super League for the 2025 season.

On their return to the top flight, the club offered no indication that they were happy to make up the numbers and they clinched a top-six place and a play-off spot at the first time of asking.

They fell short 12 months ago, but with some smart recruitment they have impressed this season. They battled with top spot for much of the campaign before eventually finishing fourth - their highest-ever Super League finish.

"I'm really proud of the whole organisation," Powell told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It comes from a lot of different people, from what we do with recruitment with Millsy [director of rugby Ste Mills] to the coaching team, which is like a band of brothers almost.

"The playing group have been outstanding."

This is where it begins, folks.

The closing stages of the 2026 Super League season are upon us - and it all kicks off tonight.

We've got two eliminator play-off ties to get stuck into, with Wakefield v Leigh getting us going tonight before Warrington Wolves face reigning champions Hull KR tomorrow.

Kick-off is coming soon.