IT'S time for the talking to stop as Leigh Centurions and Huddersfield Giants square up for the biggest game in the Northern Ford Premiership this season.

At stake is an automatic place in the Grand Final - just one step away from a place in Super League.

The winners of Sunday's McAlpine showdown will have the luxury of three weeks to prepare for the Final while the losers have the safety net of a home tie in the Major Semi-Final.

Flat out to win

But both sides will be going flat out to win on Sunday. "We want to get to the Final by the shortest possible route," says Leigh boss Paul Terzis. "No doubt Huddersfield will feel the same."

Even though the Giants have gone through the entire NFP season unbeaten and only dropping one point, Leigh are extremely confident of causing an upset on Sunday.

It will be one of the few occasions in the past four years that Leigh have gone into any game as underdogs.

"It's not a tag we're used to," admits Terzis. "But on their league form and with home advantage I suppose Huddersfield deserve to start as favourites. We've built up a proud record over the past few years but this time the boot's on the other foot. It will be interesting to see how we meet that challenge.

"Everything this season has been governed and planned for what happens over the next few weeks. What happened last year and this year against Huddersfield in the league is all in the past. We only look towards the future.

"We've done a lot of planning with regard to this game and the ones that follow. But the mood in the camp has been exceptional, very similar to the build up to the Wigan game in the Challenge Cup and if I get another performance like that I'll be delighted.

"No-one will be more motivated than our four ex-Huddersfield players - Paul Rowley, Dale Cardoza, Bobbie Goulding and Dave Bradbury."

Leigh will be without the suspended duo of Adam Bristow and Vila Matautia but report virtually a clean bill of health with centre Jon Roper ready to return after three weeks out with a knee injury.

Fit again

With Willie Swann fit again after a long injury lay-off, he will be one of several contenders to fill Bristow's loose-forward role in the starting line-up. But Terzis will not declare his 17 until the last possible minute.

Chris Morley (ankle) and Mark McCully (knee) are giving some slight concern but Terzis will name his team from a strong squad.