LEIGH Centurions have been put on full alert for a Featherstone Rovers backlash.

In-form Leigh ran up a half century of points against Rovers at Hilton Park in last Sunday's National League One fixture and by a quirk of fate the same two teams meet again at the same venue with a place in the semi-final of the Arriva Trains National Cup at stake.

Rovers were clearly stung last week and have vowed to avenge their nine-try mauling. But Leigh are ready for whatever Featherstone can throw at them.

"We are expecting them to bounce back," says Leigh head coach Paul Terzis. "But we're ready for them."

Opposite number, Andy Kelly, who called his team's effort last Sunday 'shameful' says: "We've had a heart-to-heart talk with the team this week and to a man they've pledged to come back this weekend with all guns blazing. After all, we couldn't play any worse if we tried," he added.

But at Hilton Park Terzis insists that it was the sheer quality of Leigh's performance that lead to such a heavy defeat for Rovers. "Andy (Kelly) complained about his team's performance, but I believe there are instances when your team can only play as well as the opposition will allow. Last Sunday was one of those instances."

Leigh will not be taking their foot off the gas this weekend having made winning the Arriva Trains competition as one of their prime targets for the season.

"If there's a trophy at stake we want to win it," says Terzis. "And for the club's point of view there's prizemoney at stake this year, so we'll be going flat out to win the thing.

"I want to keep the form and continuity going. I don't want us to take our foot off the accelerator."

Terzis must wait before he can name his squad with four players under treatment after last week's game. Phil Kendrick (knee), John Duffy (leg), Adam Bristow (ankle) and Paul Rowley (shoulder) are the casualties but Terzis is confident that most, or all, will be fit.

There is also a chance that front rower Rob Ball could make his comeback. Ball has missed six games after dislocating his shoulder at Salford.

But Leigh have decided that Neil Turley's return must wait at least another week. He has recovered well from an ankle ligament injury but Leigh will take no risks with their record-breaking points scorer.