DARREN Abram has a hooking headache to cure before Sunday's Arriva Trains Cup Final against Hull KR.

Untried youngster Kieran Maddox could be the surprise selection in the key position with continued doubts over Paul Rowley, Dave McConnell and Mick Govin.

Under 21s star Maddox could find himself thrown in at the deep end and make his full debut in a major final.

Rowley only has an outside chance of recovering from the knee injury that's kept him out of the last two games while his natural replacement, McConnell, is still struggling with an ankle injury. Twenty-year-old Govin, though normally a stand-off, had a top class debut at Featherstone last Sunday to put his name in the frame for a final spot.

But Govin's son is to be christened at noon on Sunday and the family commitment may mean he must step out of the equation.

"I've no idea whose going to play," admitted coach Darren Abram. "It will all come down to whose available. If it does come down to young Kieran then I've every confidence that he'll step up to the plate and do a job for us."

The Centurions also look likely to be boosted by the return of skipper Ian Knott who has been out for two weeks with a facial injury.

Although Leigh start as red hot favourites to win the competition for a second time in four years, Abram warns not to underestimate Rovers.

"Their recent form has been up and down, but this is a final. Every player will raise their game and I fully expect it to go right down to the wire and perhaps even be as close as our semi-final win at Whitehaven.

"Our preparation has gone well this week and the lads are buzzing. But finals are funny occasions. Sometimes you get your 'big' players who freeze and someone steps up out of the shadows and makes a name for themselves. You just never know.

"Finals are as much about handling the mental side of things, the pressure, as they are about winning the physical battles.

"Some of our recent games have been really tough games and we've had to grind out wins. I now know that we have the experience to win those type of games, we might need that experience on Sunday."

Two players who won't feature in Sunday's showdown are winger Steve Maden and prop Paul Norman.

Maden has had a scan on his damaged knee and it is feared that he will need a full reconstruction operation. If that is the case he's not expected to be back in action until next April. Norman is likely to be out for a month after breaking a bone in his hand in last weekend's Under 21s game.