FORTRESS Hilton Park comes under attack from the invading Vikings today - and a record crowd could be there to see it.

Leigh Centurions have turned Hilton Park into an impregnable home and have not lost in their own backyard for over a year.

And with the league leaders facing one of their main rivals today, officials are predicting that a new NFP attendance record will be set.

Leigh and Widnes hold the current record - 6644 - set at the Autoquest Stadium on Boxing Day and given fair weather today's crowd could be approaching that figure.

Leigh officials are urging Centurions' supporters to really get behind the team and help send a loud message to Super League.

"Both Leigh and Widnes are geared up for Super League, on and off the pitch, says Centurions commercial manager Kevin Ashcroft. "This game gives us an ideal opportunity to really hammer our message home to those who want to keep Super League a closed shop."

Interest in the showpiece game is sky-high with the Vikings reportedly bringing an army of 2000 fans with them. "If we can get 4 or 5000 of our own speccies through the turnstiles, then we could have a record gate on our hands and wouldn't that be a brilliant message to send over the HQ in Leeds," adds Ashcroft.

"For the first time in many, many years we have completely sold out all our sponsorship packages for the day - that's full match sponsorship, associate sponsor, programme, video, ball, mascot - the works. And in addition to all that we've got over 200 people dining pre-match."

The arrival of Neil Kelly as new head coach of Widnes adds even more spice to an already tasty game.

"Of course Neil got one over on us when he coached Dewsbury to that Grand Final win in July, but our record going head-to-head stands at two-all," says Centurions coach Paul Terzis.

Terzis watched Widnes win 13-12 at Dewsbury on Saturday and came away noting that Kelly has made one or two subtle changes to the Vikings' gameplan.

"Dewsbury were a bit unlucky to lose," he says. "One or two close calls went against them and Widnes had to defend three sets of six on their own line at the end.

"We know all about Widnes' strengths and how they like to play. But my main objective all week has been to get our game going well. If we perform to our maximum, with and without the ball, then there's no side in this division can live with us. I'd rather let Widnes worry about us rather than us worry about them.

"We're very proud of our home record and don't intend losing it against Widnes."

Leigh's last home defeat was on April 9 last year when Sheffield grabbed a shock 26-24 win.

Today is the start of a hectic run of three games in nine days. On Sunday they make the short hop to Gigg Lane for a local derby against Swinton before Dewsbury come to Hilton Park on the 22nd.

"It will test us physically and mentally but I'm quietly confident that we can handle both those facets," Terzis adds.

Consequently he has named a squad of 22 to cover both the Widnes and Swinton games.

Dave Bradbury, John Hamilton and Michael Watts who were all rested for the trip to Hunslet last weekend, will be back and Andy Fairclough returns to the squad after a calf strain.

The only absentees are long term casualties Alan Hadcroft, Kieron Purtill and Jamie Gass who all have shoulder injuries.