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Tykes await date with destiny

Iain Balshaw admits Leeds' clash with Saracens is their 'final roll of the dice'.

England full back Iain Balshaw has warned Saracens to expect a no-nonsense Leeds Tykes outfit on Friday.

Balshaw is aiming to play his part in a miraculous rescue mission for the Tykes, who know anything other than victory at Headingley will effectively end their hopes of staying in the Premiership.

Leeds currently sit 11 points adrift of Bristol, 12 behind Saracens, and with only four games remaining the Yorkshiremen will be desperate to make the most of their penultimate home game.

Sarries have halted their own bad run with two recent wins, but Balshaw is hoping his men will want victory that little bit more come Friday.

"It's certainly a hard run-in for us, as I think the whole rugby nation has seen," confessed the injury-plagued Leeds man to Sky Sports News.

"We just know now that we have no alternative but to win, we can't think about anything else other than performing well and winning.

"It's our last throw of the dice as it were, but the boys are confident and looking forward to a hard game on Saturday."

Leeds' remaining home game is against play-off chasing Gloucester, which is sandwiched between trips to London Irish and Newcastle Falcons.