Leigh Centurions take on Widnes Vikings this Thursday determined to break their duck and record their first home win in the Co-operative Championship.


The televised game kicks off at 7.30pm at the Leigh Sports Village and with Widnes also under pressure to start to producing the wins expected by their fans another exciting clash is very much in prospect.
Leigh should be at full strength as head coach Paul Rowley selects his second side since taking over from Neil Kelly ahead of the away win at Batley. And that's some something he will be hoping to build upon.


"It's another tough game, but they are a lot like us," said Rowley. "They have been patchy this season and it depends what mood you catch them in."
"We will be without Adam Higson who picked up a broken scaphoid in the under 21s game last weekend and he will be out for six weeks.
"We are also sweating on the disciplinary hearings of Macgraff Leuluai and Anthony Rourke. Macgraff was sent off against Featherstone under 21s and Anthony was put on report. But other than that we have a full squad to pick from with the exception of John Cookson who has been out for a few weeks anyway.


"Widnes are a side that are tough to break down. They play low risk plays and work on enthusiasm and good ground from dummy runs.
"They have terrific players in Webster, Smith, Duffy and Thackery and we will lave to ensure we contain them.
"But there was plenty for us to take cheer from against Batley and it was a win last time out, so we won't be going too far away from that team for this game."

Leigh of course are still seeking that elusive first home win in this competition, yet despite that Paul is not feeling any pressure.
"I think the days of grounds being an advantage have gone," he said. "Batley with its slope, Featherstone with its compact ground and of course the old Thrum Hall are and were grounds where you could glean some advantage but on the perfect playing surfaces like we have, it is just the same for both sides.
"What you have to do is make sure the consistency of your performance is good, and that is what we have to do on Thursday."
Leigh beat Widnes 10-8 in a thriller at the Stobart Stadium, Ian Mort kicking a late winning conversion, and it could be just as tight on Thursday.


Meanwhile Leigh have been given the all clear to sign Australian half back Joe Williams.
"He has been given the approval by the RFL and NRL and the employment office, and we are just waiting for the final paperwork from Canberra,'' explained Rowley.
"It doesn't seem to mean as much to them as it does to us.
"But hopefully he will be with us within the next couple of weeks."