But they may have to do without impressive New Zealander back-row forward Macgraff Leuluai, who has only a 50/50 chance of playing.

Leigh begin their challenge for the Cooperative Championship with a home clash against last season's champions, Barrow Raiders tonight (Thursday, February 25, kick off 7.30pm) under floodlights and live on SKY TV.

On paper it's as tough a start as possible and the fact that it is being played under the watchful eye of the TV cameras will only serve to add pressure on both teams as they bid to make it a winning start to the campaign that will ultimately give at least one of the Championship clubs the right to apply for a Super League licence in 2011.

Last Sunday's final qualifying round game of the Northern Rail Cup against Dewsbury, was postponed due to heavy snow in the region, and although it meant Leigh didn't pick up any more injuries, it was still a huge disappointment that the game did not go ahead.

"We most definitely wanted to play the game even though it was only four days before the Barrow match," said Centurions head coach Ian Millward.

"We wanted to build on the excellent performance against Featherstone and build some consistency into our plays.

"It would have been a pressure game and ensured we went in to the Barrow game with the intensity of competition very much in our minds.
"Barrow won the league last year and only lost 22-20 at Widnes. They are obviously a very good side and it is the ideal start for us.

"We finished second last in 2009 and were inconsistent.
"Now we will get a first look at what is needed to win the competition, and we can gauge how far we may have come from last season and how far we have to go.

"Of course we are out to win, and if we do so it will not in anyway prove we are where we want to be.
"Should we lose, then at least we will have some measure of where we are.

"On the face of our last performance, we are well capable of beating Barrow and anyone else for that matter, but we really could have done with the Dewsbury game going ahead.

"That said, we didn't waste the day and put in a tough training session on Sunday to at least get our preparation for Thursday on the right track."

The Centurions game against Dewsbury Rams has now been rearranged for Wednesday, March 3, (kick off 7.30pm).

Millward said: "It means we play Barrow, then Dewsbury on the Wednesday before playing our Challenge Cup game against Wath Brow Hornets in two Sundays' time. It will be three very important games for us."

Leigh have a major injury doubt regarding Leuluai, who suffered a shoulder injury against Featherstone, but apart form the other longer term casualties Steve Nash, Ricky Bibey and Jamie Durbin, Millward has a full squad to select from.