WILY Leigh coach Ian Millward is telling his players to look forward and not back when they kick off the new season on Boxing Day.

Three epic battles against Widnes last season should ensure a bumper festive crowd at Hilton Park when the arch-rivals clash head-on in the season's first league game.

But, although Leigh were beaten in all three clashes, two in the league and one in the Challenge Cup, the margins were only three points, one point and three points.

"They were three great games last season," said Millward. "But last season isn't this season. Those games won't have any relevance on Boxing Day.

"It would be nice to kick off the season with two points, but there are another 27 games after this one."

Millward reports an almost completely full-strength squad. Only James Arkwright and Chris Halliwell, who are recovering from knee injuries, have not been considered. "Basically, we're all fit and raring to go," he said. "It will be nice to get back into competitive action after weeks of pre-season training.

"We're confident we can go better than last year when one more win would have seen us finish top of the comp. It will be tough because all our main rivals have recruited strongly. But we've also signed some real quality in Alan Cross, Paul Anderson, Simon Baldwin and Adam Bristow, so we've every reason to fee optimistic."

All four newcomers will start on Sunday along with Stuart Donlan who missed the Doncaster trial game because of an ankle injury.

Leigh's line-up is: Donlan; Wingfield, Anderson, Cross, Ingram; Close, Dean; Street, Murray, Cruickshank, Baldwin, Bristow, Fairclough. Subs from: Higham, Purtill, Whittle, Bowker, Norman.

Widnes have lost Fabien Devecchi to Avignon, Mark Hewitt (Hull KR), Phil Hassan and Lokeni Savelio (both Halifax) and released Jason Critchley, Richie Eyres and Paul Hulme.

On the credit side they have recruited former Leigh pair Jason Donohue and Andy Cheetham, Cliff Eccles from Swinton and Steve Gee from Lancashire Lynx.

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