Leaper will run out in a top-of-the-table clash against the Tuggeranong Vikings on Saturday more than two years after his first-grade initiation went horribly wrong.

Leaper was playing for Royals against Queanbeyan in the opening game of the 2014 season when he tackled an opponent and landed on his boots.

At first Leaper thought he was just winded and urged himself to push through the pain barrier to play on. But when the pain didn't subside after 25 minutes, he knew something wasn't right.

Leaper ended up in the Canberra Hospital with a ruptured spleen and three litres of blood in his abdomen.

"I was there for 10 days. I had surgery the night of the game and three litres of blood in my abdomen … when you've got seven litres of blood in your body, it's not good," Leaper said.

"It was just spilling out. The doctors said that I was lucky … if they hadn't operated when they did I would have just bled out essentially.

"When it first happened I thought I could just run it out and be all right. It's just one of those things that it's in your mind when it happens, but over time it just takes a back seat and you move forward."

Leaper has emerged on the other side of his injury to help the Whites launch their bid for the minor premiership and another John I Dent Cup title.

The 20-centimetre scar down his left side serves as a constant reminder of his first, and brief, stint in Canberra rugby.

Doctors told him not to do any strenuous physical activity for six months after the injury and he returned to Wagga. In that time he lost 15 kilograms, but his desire to play never disappeared.

Leaper made a comeback for Ag College in the Wagga competition last year and then decided to link with Whites this season to have another crack at the John I Dent Cup.

He has cemented his place in the Whites' line-up and was considered unlucky not to clinch a Canberra Vikings spot for the National Rugby Championships later this year.

"Playing for the Whites has been good so far, things are going well," Leaper said.

"I like playing footy and I love the social side of it. When I did the injury I was coaching for a bit in Wagga … but not being able to play really motivates you to get back into it.

"We played a pre-season game in Cowra [last year] and on the first carry I got a hit and it was all good. I didn't think I'd come back to Canberra, but an opportunity presented itself and here I am.

"I feel like I'm getting back on track. The level of footy is a step up over here and there are always little things to work on."

The Whites are the only team to beat the Vikings this season and can challenge them for top spot on the ladder if they win the battle at Campese Field on the club's 'old boys' day.

The Vikings have been the most dominant team in the competition for the past six years, but there have been chinks in their armour over the way and the Whites are one of the sides banging down the door to usurp them.

The Vikings-Whites match puts the best defensive teams in the John I Dent Cup against each other in what looms as a massive match in the context of the season.

"The rivalry always gets both teams fired up, but we've just been taking each game on its own and we'll keep that formula going into this weekend."

JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 12

Saturday: Queanbeyan Whites v Tuggeranong Vikings at Campese Field, Easts v Gungahlin Eagles at Griffith Oval, Uni-Norths Owls v Royals at ANU North. All games at 3.05pm. Wests - bye.