LEIGH Centurions' whizz-kids play the biggest game of their lives tomorrow when they make a return trip to Hull Kingston Rovers for the Academy Division One Grand Final.

And the stakes are high with the Final winners being promoted to the Academy Super League where they will lock horns with the likes of Wigan, St Helens, Bradford and Leeds.

It's been a remarkable nine months for the young Leigh side, hastily put together by Hilton Park Youth Development Director, Steve Grainey.

They ended the regular league season in second place, just behind Minor Premiers Hull KR. In the play-offs they hammered fancied Featherstone and then went to Humberside and pulled off a magnificent 24-20 success to help set up a Grand Final repeat. Coached by Darren Abram and assistant Dave Elliott, the Academy team contains some outstanding young talent two of whom, Richard Varkulis and Simon Warhurst, have already tasted first team action this season.

Assistant coach Elliott is upbeat despite Leigh having to play the Grand Final on Rovers' home turf at Craven Park.

"We go into the game with confidence sky-high especially after our splendid win on Humberside two weeks ago," says Elliott.

"We didn't play as fluently as we had done against Featherstone the previous week but psychologically it was a massive result.

"The extra week off that the Hull KR victory gave us was very important as it's given the likes of Peter Clark, Gareth Bourhill and Lee Sanderson time to shake off knocks."

And Elliott feels that the Craven Park stadium will suit Leigh down to the ground.

"The two occasions we've played at Hull KR the games have been moved to small pitches with the crowd on the touchline. The Hull KR fans made both games very intimidating atmospheres. At Craven Park they won't be able to influence things the same. "Rovers play a very intimidating style. They like to put physical pressure on you but in the last game we stood up to that magnificently and gave them some back. I'm expecting we're going to have to do the same again."

And should Leigh qualify for Super League, Elliott feels they will cope with the step up in quality.

"I've no fears there. This is a tremendously talented bunch of players and although we'll lose the likes of Clark and Sanderson to the Under 21's we'll still be able to draw on the backbone of the current squad. And we've got some great kids coming through."

The match kicks off at 3.30pm.