IT'S all hands on deck as Leigh step up a gear for Sunday's Challenge Cup tie at Hull KR.

Around 250 fans will be travelling to the match - for FREE.

Another six fans have weighed in with cash to give players an overnight stay on Humberside in preparation for the big game.

"It's a tremendous gesture," said commercial boss Allan Rowley.

The super six are Dave Rowlands, Mick Dunai, Don Boyle, Franny Taylor, Tommy Coleman and Phil Denman.

And, as fan fever reaches boiling point, Allan revealed that a series of sponsored coaches will be leaving Hilton Park at 11am on Sunday morning and heading for the Crest Hotel in Hull to cheer the lads on for the last stage of their trip to Craven Park.

Mike Eaves from Eavesway Travel has got together with Dennis O'Halloran of Victoria Garage, Senator Car Sales, the Cherry-and-Whites Society and Leigh Lifeline Society in a sponsorship deal taking fans to the match for free.

And there will be a big send-off with breakfast and face painting at Hilton Park.

Meanwhile, Leigh will be hoping for Lucky 13 at Craven Park. The cupboard has been bare in their last 12 visits to Hull KR.

Their last win there was a dramatic 18-17 Challenge Cup second round triumph in the championship-winning season of 1981-82.

Remember! When Leigh were top of the league - and stumbling Wigan had just risen from Division Two as runners-up to York!

That time five goals from John Woods and two Steve Donlan drops clinched a thriller.

In the only other cup clash between the Centenary Season's top Division Two teams, Rovers won 25-10 at home in a 1986 quarter-final before going on to lose to Castleford at Wembley.

Rovers scored a league double over Leigh this season, including a 33-24 win at Craven Park in the first week of the campaign.

Hull KR's David Plange, who finished the season with four tries against Chorley, is the league's top try scorer on 28 - sharing No 1 spot with Wigan's Martin Offiah (who is top for a record-busting sixth straight year).

Leigh have no one in the Top 10. But in the goals section Chris Wilkinson slips in at equal ninth on 81.

Rovers' Mike Fletcher was second to Bobbie Goulding (St Helens) on 117, his nine against Chorley placing him among the elite players to have scored in every match in a season.

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