IAN Millward has raised the stakes again as Leigh Centurions wrap up their pre-season preparations with a final warm-up game against Oldham at Hilton Park on Sunday. Coach Millward has told his squad that they are playing for places in the line-up for the following week's Challenge Cup opener against Norland.

And good performances against the Hull amateurs will determine the starting formation for the first league game against York on February 7.

"The players know exactly what's required," Millward says. "The stakes have gone up a notch or two.

"Last Sunday at Keighley was a big improvement on what they produced last season but we've got to try and take it another step further. We don't want to be taking a step back, particularly with such an important game the week after.

"We're still a long way from being perfect but I've been impressed by the way the squad has responded to new methods. We've got to keep that improvement going.

"I don't want the players getting comfortable after a good result. Our standards have got to be higher than our performance at Keighley." Millward makes just two changes from the starting 13. Phil Kendrick comes in on the right wing for Paul Wingfield who has undergone surgery to repair a double hernia while David Ingram replaces Stuart Dickinson on the other flank.

Hilton Park fans will also get their first look at new Aussie backrower Heath Cruickshank who flew in today. The ex-Gold Coast Charger will get a run from the sub's bench.

Radney Bowker is also named among the replacements after being forced to step down from the Keighley squad because of a thigh strain.

Sunday's team is: Donlan; Kendrick, Hadcroft, Purtill, Ingram; Patel, Dean; Street, Murray, Whittle, Costello, Liku, Fairclough. Subs: Cruickshank, Smith, Jenkins, Bowker, Arkwright, Dickinson, Norman.

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