THE Centurions are fit, ready and raring to go, determined to make it impossible for Super League to ignore their claims for promotion to the elite division.

"We've got three games now to hammer home the message we've been sending out all season," declares defiant coach Paul Terzis as he fine tunes his team ahead of Leigh's opening play-off tie against Oldham.

"If Super League ignore us now, then the whole game stands to be held in ridicule.

"Our facilities off the field match the required standard and on the playing and support side of things we've achieved everything we set out to do.

"Now we want to go on and win the Grand Final at the end of the month. That's been our target from day one and nothing has changed that burning ambition."

Terzis says he's rarely seen his squad in such a determined and single-minded mood as they shown since wrapping up their NFP league programme last week.

"The mood reminds me very much of how things were leading up the the Challenge Cup game against Salford earlier in the year. The lads know that if they play to their potential then they are going to go all the way and win the Grand Final.

"Everyone is buzzing now we've reached the business end of the season. We've come too far to fail now."

Oldham's visit for Sunday's Preliminary Semi-Final is a repeat of last year's Major Semi which Leigh won 18-10 to book a Grand Final place.

"We don't look back at that. We're a totally different team this year - better and stronger than last," Terzis points out.

Leigh are expecting a bumper crowd for Sunday's showdown, especially if the weather stays fair.

"We think we can comfortably get 5000, hopefully over 6000 considering Oldham's fantastic away following," says Leigh's commercial manager Kevin Ashcroft.

"Now it's down to the nitty-gritty, we'd love the town to really get behind us over the next three games and cheer us all the way into Super League where we belong."

If the Centurions do beat Mike Ford's team, they will then have the benefit of a week's break before returning to Hilton Park on July 22 for the Major Semi-Final against either Widnes, Rochdale, Dewsbury or Hull KR. If Hornets lose at Widnes this week and then go on to beat either Dewsbury or HKR, then they will be the team that block Leigh's route to the Grand Final.

If Leigh overcome Oldham this weekend, the Roughyeds will be back at Hilton Park next weekend for a Minor Semi-Final clash against the winners of Featherstone and Keighley. Should Leigh lose, they will return the following Sunday against either Rovers or the Cougars. Oldham have switched their home play-off games to Leigh because Boundary Park is out of commission for re-turfing.

But whichever the way the draw finally pans out, Leigh don't fear meeting any side at their Hilton Park fortress.

"Every team that comes here knows what to expect. Playing at home gives is a huge psychological advantage," Terzis reckons.

Leigh's only meeting with Oldham this season brought a 44-18 rout for the Centurions on a frozen Boundary Park pitch back in January. Leigh have gone on to win the NFP by nine points while Oldham's last day defeat at Hull KR dropped them from second to fourth.

"You have to give respect to any side that finishes in the top eight. Oldham have been outstanding in the second half of the season, losing just once in 12 games," Terzis adds. "It will be interesting to see how much that Hull KR defeat has affected them mentally."

Terzis is well aware of the danger posed by the likes of Neil Roden - brother of Leigh's Martin - Anthony Gibbons, David Sibson and Joey Hayes and has drawn up specific plans to keep New Zealand back rower Bryan Henare quiet.

Although Terzis will not declare his line-up until minutes before kick-off, he named his team to the players on Tuesday.

Simon Baldwin, Dave Bradbury, Paul Anderson and Liam Bretherton, all rested against York, will be back and their could even be a surprise return for half-back-cum-hooker John Duffy who, just two weeks ago, thought his season was over.

Duffy's knee injury has now been diagnosed as a ligament strain, not a tear as originally feared. two weeks rest and treatment has seen a big improvement, and if Duffy comes through this week's training sessions with no ill-effects he could force his way into the 17.