THE strength of Ian Millward's back-up squad will be put to the test in Sunday's Challenge Cup fifth round tie at Widnes. The Centurions' coach virtually finds the Hilton Park cupboard bare as he looks for a combination capable of taking Leigh into the quarter-finals.

David Ingram (knee) and Chris Parr (neck) have joined Craig Dean, Heath Cruickshank and Paul Wingfield on the long-term injured list. And it's by no means certain that latest Aussie recruit Jamie Kennedy will be ready to figure - leaving Leigh with half a team crocked and sat in the Auto Quest Stadium stand.

"Experienced players are now thin on the ground. I've managed to put together a starting 13 but finding four suitable replacements is proving a struggle," admits Millward.

Scott Hilton, whose form last season suffered because of a succession of injuries, wins a rare start at scrum-half after impressing as a second half replacement at Dewsbury. Another youngster with reasonable senior experience, Mark Burrows, comes in on the wing as cover for Ingram.

Millward cannot consider goal-kicking winger Dean Purtill as he is not registered for the Challenge Cup.

The growing injury list could force Millward into introducing Kennedy earlier than he wants. "Jamie is close to being ready for a game. He's a possibility for Widnes and a probability for Whitehaven the following week."

Despite a defeat at Dewsbury and a long casualty list, Millward reports that spirits in the Leigh camp are still high.

"We're a happy camp and we've already put the Dewsbury game behind us and are totally focused on Widnes.

"But we know we've a real battle on our hands. Widnes have recruited strongly, especially at half-back with Paul Mansson and Fabian Devecchi and in the front row with Lee Hansen, Phil Cantillon and George Mann. We've got to match them in those areas."

Sunday's starting line-up is: Donlan; Burrows, Hadcroft, Purtill, Arkwright; Patel, Hilton; Street, Murray, Whittle, Kendrick, Liku, Fairclough. Subs to be selected.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.