IN-FORM Aussie half-back Pat Weisner is losing his fitness battle to be fit for Leigh Centurions' key Arriva Trains group game at Rochdale on Sunday.

Weisner, who has made good progress in his first season at Hilton Park, has a swollen knee after last Saturday's friendly game at Castleford and has been slow to respond to treatment.

Head coach Paul Terzis is resigned to losing his influential half-back for a game that could go a long way to securing Leigh's progress to the knockout stage of the Arriva Trains Cup.

"Pat's struggling," Terzis confirmed. "It's not a major problem but it looks like he won't make the Rochdale game."

Leigh's other likely non-starter at Spotland is hooker John Hamilton who is still troubled by a hand injury.

But five of the six who were absent at Castleford - Sonny Nickle, John Duffy, Michael Watts, Alan Hadcroft and Paul Rowley - are set for recalls against Rochdale. Nickle (elbow), Hadcroft (cut leg) and Duffy (thigh) have all reported fit this week. Dave Bradbury (groin) and Rob Ball (ribs) have been under treatment since the Castleford game but are expected to take their places at the weekend.

Record-breaking full-back Neil Turley, who made his first senior start of the season last weekend, remains in the squad.

Terzis sees a lot of similarities between Leigh and Rochdale. "Both are good attacking sides who sometimes struggle with the defensive aspect of their game," he says.

"Defence is an area we're working hard on. At times we get it right, at others we don't. It's all about getting the consistency in that part of our game.

"Rochdale seem to have the same problem. At times they can be red hot, at others they can be poor. To be honest we don't know which Rochdale team will turn up on Sunday. But they had a week off last weekend and no doubt will have been working hard to iron out their problems.

"Recently they competed well at times against Salford then conceded five tries in successive sets of six. That sort of frailty will be something we'll be looking to exploit," Terzis adds.

There will be a couple of familiar faces in the Hornets side. Centre Jon Roper and forward Gareth Price were both with the Centurions last season.