OLD BOY - Leigh hooker Paul Rowley returns to his former club, Halifax.

by Mike Hulme

Centurions aim to make their mark

ABRAM SENDS FAX

MESSAGE

LEIGH Centurions won't be shouting from the roof-tops should they beat major National League One rivals Halifax this Sunday.

But they know that a victory in their Arriva Trains cross-group game at the Shay could give them a psychological edge over their fellow Super League contenders once the league programme starts at Easter.

"In previous seasons the clubs relegated from Super League, Huddersfield and Salford, put their markers down early to the rest of the National League One sides. We aim to do the same," said Leigh coach Darren Abram.

So far this season Leigh boast a 100 per cent Arriva Trains success record and have only been beaten by Hull in the Challenge Cup. But Halifax have made an unspectacular start, losing in France in the Challenge Cup and only last Sunday being well beaten by Keighley in the Arriva Trains.

"That result at Keighley might have done them good," says Abram. "Perhaps some of their players felt they would coast through this division, but that would have been a huge wake-up call to them. I've no doubt Tony Anderson has been into their ribs this week in training and I fully expect Halifax to come at us with all guns blazing.

"But we're ready and I know that if we perform as we can we're capable of winning the game. We won't be making a big issue of it if we win, but it will be nice to know that we've given them something to think about."

The Centurions have been lifted by the news that in-form centre Danny Halliwell hasn't fractured his cheekbone as was feared last Sunday. Halliwell had x-rays after the match and he's been cleared to play this weekend against his former club.

Also returning to the squad this weekend are Andrew Isherwood after suspension and a fit again Oliver Wilkes.

Three of the Leigh squad will be returning to their old stomping ground - Paul Rowley, Heath Cruckshank and Halliwell. And there will be plenty of familiar faces in the 'Fax line-up with Oli Marns, Alan Hadcroft, Pat Weisner and Chris Morley all set to play. The only ex-Leigh absentee is centre Jon Roper who is out with a broken thumb.