PAUL Rowley could be facing another long injury lay-off.

The influential Leigh Centurions hooker has suffered a recurrence of the shoulder injury that plagued him all last season and eventually needed surgery.

Rowley sees a specialist shortly - but he is expecting bad news.

"It feels just like it did last year," he said. "I'm not too optimistic.

"At a pinch I could have played on Monday against London but I knew the shoulder wasn't right and I didn't want to be the one to let the team down by missing a vital tackle or something like that and it cost us the game.

"It's the same shoulder I had trouble with last season but I could get away with a bit in National League One and keep playing. I doubt I could get away with it in Super League.

"There's a chance with a week or two rest that the injury could settle down again. It's all wait and see at the moment."

Surgery would mean three or four months on the sideline.

Rowley's injury is the last thing Leigh needed as the casualty list at Hilton Park grows ever longer. Oli Wilkes (shoulder) and Jason Kent (thigh) were withdrawn during Monday's victory and must be doubtful for Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup trip to National League One side Batley. They have joined Ian Knott, Kevin Henderson and Danny Halliwell on the treatment table. Halliwell hopes to get the all clear to resume playing next week after surgery on a troublesome foot injury.

Leigh will be wary of Sunday's trip to Mount Pleasant, knowing that it could be a potential banana skin.

The Bulldogs gave Leigh hard time in last season's National League One campaign and they will still be smarting after Leigh snatched a last gap victory on the season's final day to clinch the National League One Minor Premiership.

Admission prices at Mount Pleasant are £10 and £6. The referee is Ronnie Laughton.