THE odds are firmly stacked against Leigh Centurions as they prepare for Sunday's crunch game at Whitehaven.

Just when Leigh's lengthy injury list showed some signs of easing, coach Paul Terzis could be without three more of his big guns at the Recreation Ground.

Hooker Paul Rowley, prop Dave Whittle and full-back Neil Turley are given little chance of recovery in time for the trip to Cumbria.

Leigh's major worry surrounds co-skipper Rowley who suffered a nasty head injury in the opening moments of last Sunday's meeting with Keighley. Rowley was concussed and was packed off to hospital for x-rays on a possible cheekbone fracture.

Hospital tests have so far proved inconclusive and more x-rays and scans have been arranged.

"While the medics don't feel there is a fracture, we won't know for sure until all the test results are in," says Terzis. "But irrespective of that Paul's still suffering from headaches and because of that more than anything else, we've pulled him out of the squad this week."

Top try scorer Turley is still in some discomfort after pulling out of the Keighley game with shin splints - a condition sometimes suffered through training on hard surfaces.

"I've not completely ruled Neil out yet," said Terzis. "We're monitoring him day to day but I've got to say it doesn't look great at the moment."

Prop Whittle has a bruised calf and has joined fellow front rower Vila Matautia (thigh) on the treatment table.

But it's not all been bad news for Terzis in the last few days with Willie Swann, Jon Roper and Simon Knox all being cleared to play at Whitehaven.

Swann's leg injury has proved to be nothing worse than a bruised shin while Roper has recovered from a bruised sternum and Knox shaken off a back injury that has plagued him for the past month.

But despite his problems Terzis is expecting Leigh to come back from Cumbria with both NFP points.

"We know exactly what to expect up there," he says. "They're an enthusiastic side who perform well at home as we know only too well from the comprehensive defeat they handed us in the Buddies competition.

"But the players are really up for this one and if we perform to our capabilities we'll be OK."

The outstanding NFP game at Hull KR - abandoned early in the season because of floodlight failure at Craven Park - has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 3.