STILL smarting from their last-gasp defeat at Doncaster, the Centurions are counting down the minutes to Sunday's big NFP showdown at Keighley.

The Cougars hold no fears for Leigh who are determined to prove that their Belle Vue setback was nothing more than a minor wobble.

Top against second; just one point between them and a packed Cougar Park - it's all set up for a titanic struggle against the two NFP heavyweights.

And Leigh wouldn't have it any other way, feeling their big game experience will be a crucial factor.

"We've proved in the past that we are learning to cope with pressure and these are the big games the players relish. Their tempo and focus goes up to another level when confronted by challenges like these," says coach Paul Terzis. "We can't wait."

"OK, the players were a bit down after the loss at Doncaster, but the good thing about it was that the defeat was largely self-inflicted and therefore is easier to fix. We've addressed one or two points this week and the lads have put their hands up and admitted they lost the game rather than Doncaster winning it.

"But we've not looked back too much. It's time to look forward to the second half of the season and see if we can put together another 12-game winning run," Terzis adds.

"Lots of teams now think we're beatable after that Doncaster result but that doesn't faze us. We know that on our day we can beat anyone in this division. That's not being arrogant, it's being truthful. If other teams see us as arrogant, then so be it. We'll worry about what we do, not what others may think of us."

Leigh's chances at Keighley improved when the Cougars ruled out star play-maker Martin Wood with a serious knee injury.

Wood was carried off at Widnes last Sunday and went under the surgeon's knife on Tuesday. He will be out for four to six weeks.

Wood recently passed 1000 points for the Cougars but it's his ability to open the tightest of defences that the opposition fear most. "It will affect them," says Terzis. "But it gvies another player the chance to prove what he can do."

That player is likely to be ex-Wigan half-back Craig Murdock who returned to action in the Alliance team on Wednesday after being out for a month with a back injury. Significantly he was withdrawn at half time, presumably in readiness for Sunday.

Both coaches are keeping their selections under wraps but Leigh's only major injury concern is John Duffy who has a neck problem. A decision on his fitness will only be made on Sunday.

Second rower Chris Morley, who missed the Doncaster defeat because of a minor ankle injury, and joint skipper Andy Fairclough, out for five weeks, will both be in the squad for Cougar Park. Dave Whittle (cut eye) and Andy Leathem (bruised thigh) are also included.

Prop Tim Street had the plaster removed from his broken thumb this week and may make a surprise return.