PAT Weisner is earmarked to fill Paul Rowley's hooking role when Leigh Centurions make a third attempt to reach Super League on Sunday.

The Hilton Park backroom team are considering replacing the suspended Rowley with their Aussie half-back for Sunday's Grand Final showdown with Salford City Reds at Widnes.

Leigh accept that their chances of success have been damaged by the two-game ban Rowley picked up on Tuesday following his red card against Salford in the play-off qualifier 10 days ago but still feel that they can come up with the level of performance needed to win the Grand Final.

"The loss of Rowley is a big, big blow," admits assistant coach Norman Turley. "We always hoped that the disciplinary panel would show some leniency, but it wasn't to be.

"Paul's gutted and so are the rest of the squad. He's been one of our most consistent players all season and we'll miss him. But we've got to take it on the chin and get on with the job.

"It gives someone else an opportunity to make a name for themselves," he added.

One piece of good news for the Centurions is that prop Ricky Bibey is clear to play. He was given a sending off sufficient verdict following his dismissal for tripping, also in the game at Salford.

Although Leigh picked up a crop of injuries in their semi-final win over Hull KR, they expect to pick from strength.

Tommy Martyn (dead leg), Neil Turley (abductor strain), Dave Bradbury (calf) and Sonny Nickle (neck) will all play. John Duffy and Bryan Henare are also added to the squad.

Hard labour

Eleven months of hard labour go on the line for the Centurions in Sunday's showpiece.

Since pre-season training resumed last November, Leigh have barely had a week off, batting through the qualifying stages of the Arriva Trains Cup before the 18-game league programme and latterly the play-offs.

Now it all comes down to 80 minutes on Sunday with Leigh hoping to make it third time lucky after previous Grand Final defeats by Dewsbury in 2000 and Huddersfield in 2002.

With Rowley's ban Leigh have just five survivors from last year's team beaten by the Giants, but they won't be short of big game experience.

Turley, Swann, Bradbury, Duffy and Bristow all figured last year; Damian Munro and Sean Richardson - in his fifth Grand Final at this level - were in the Widnes side that won promotion in 2001 while Tommy Martyn and Sonny Nickle have played in Super League Grand Finals with Saints.

Fans have been warned to keep off the pitch at full time or the clubs could face financial penalty.

Leigh's Operations Manager, Mike Callaghan, says: "We've been told that any encroachment could lead to a fine. Our players will come over to the fans, win or lose, at the end of the game."

SIX Leigh players are in the National League One squad for next month's game at Hilton Park against the touring New Zealand 'A' side.

They are: John Duffy, Alan Hadcroft, Danny Halliwell, Damian Munro, Neil Turley and Paul Rowley.

Duffy is also in the Scotland squad for the end of season European Championships.