CHORLEY'S familiar faces won't be getting any favours from Leigh Centurions when they pull into town for Sunday's Arriva Trains National Cup cross-group match.
Dubbed Chor-Leigh because of the number of former Centurions now at Victory Park, the Lynx will find they are up against a new team with new ideas.
Leigh head coach Paul Terzis says: "If Chorley think they have some inside knowledge because of the close links they've got with us, they will have to think again."
The Lynx can call on ex-Leigh stars Tim Street, Dave Whittle, Mark McCully, Dave Ingram, Saf Patel and Martin Roden.
While he acknowledges that Chorley, now guided by Darren Abram who was Leigh's Academy coach last season, are an improving side he adds: "Much of what we are about has changed from last season. I don't think Chorley will be able to use any inside knowledge. The only thing they will recognise is the passion with which we play the game."
The Lynx can call on Tim Street, Dave Whittle, Mark McCully, Dave Ingram, Saf Patel and Martin Roden - all ex-Hilton Park favourites with points to prove.
"We will treat them with respect," adds Terzis. "But they will soon realise that things have changed here since they left the club.
"We are still unbeaten in the Arriva Trains competition with two wins and a draw and we are confident of making that three wins and a draw come Sunday."
Terzis will make a couple of changes to the team that drew with Salford last Sunday. Full-back Dave Alstead, who has made an impressive start to his Leigh career, may have to drop out because of work commitments while prop Dave Bradbury is struggling with a bruised thigh and may not be risked.
Centre Dale Cardoza (ankle) and winger Alan Hadcroft (cut leg) were withdrawn against Salford but Terzis is confident that both will recover in time to play.
Michael Watts will face one of his former clubs as deputy for Alstead at full-back with Willie Swann making his first appearance of the season off the bench.
The 19-man squad is: Watts, Rivett, Cardoza, Munro, Hadcroft, Weisner, Duffy, Ball, Rowley, Nickle, Henare, Richardson, Bristow, Swann, Hamilton, Sanderson, Bradbury, Alstead and Kendrick.
There was some good news for injured full-back Neil Turley this week with the club's medical team deciding he's ready to step up his comeback by playing in an Academy friendly against Wigan at Wigan St Jude's on Saturday afternoon.
"Neil's been making good progress from his back injury," Terzis reports. "But it's now time that he tests himself out in a competitive game. His fitness level and conditioning are still off the pace because he's not played for so long and this is the first step to improving those. It's the first step back."
Prop Paul Norman, out for year after a knee reconstruction, could also get a run for 10 or 15 minutes in the same game to assess his progress.
Leigh have arranged a friendly game at Castleford next Saturday, March 1, kick off 6pm at The Jungle, to fill in a blank weekend in the calendar.
The club has organised a travel package for fans wanting to make the trip. For £25 a head, supporters can enjoy a chinese banquet in the Mick Martyn Bar at 2pm before leaving for Castleford at 3.45pm. The price also includes return coach travel and admission to The Jungle. The offer is limited to 200. For further details contact Mike Callaghan on 01942-743743.
The Centurions are offering the opportunity for fans to travel with the first team to away fixtures on the team bus with the directors, players and coaching staff. To have you chance simply purchase your CATS ticket which are on sale in the club shop and also inside the ground during this weekend's fixture. The cost of a ticket is £1 and winners will be notified by the club.
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