LEIGH RMI are just 90 minutes away from a prized place in Monday's FA Cup first round draw.

Only UniBond Premier League Runcorn stand between them and a possible tie against a Second or Third Division Football League side.

And if they manage to win through tomorrow it will be the first time a game of such stature has been played in Leigh.

The possibilities of national exposure has prompted club chairman Chris Healey to send out a 'get behind us' plea to the people of Leigh.

"We already have Rugby League supporters who follow us in the winter and they have been happy with what they have seen," he said.

"We now feel it is time to broaden the base. With our excellent start, plus a possible plum tie in the FA Cup, it is the ideal opportunity for the locals to get behind us.

"We are not taking Runcorn lightly. But, if the people of Leigh come along and support us in this important game, it could put the town in the spotlight.

"Both Mick Higgins, the Rugby League chairman, and myself want Hilton Park to be used 52 weeks of the year. If it is, the more viable a proposition the whole club will be become."

RMI have already beaten two other teams from the Premier Division - Alfreton and Marine - as well as Belper Town in Derbyshire and Billingham Synthonia from the North East.

Meanwhile manager Steve Waywell is hoping Tuesday's replay defeat by Droylsden in the FA Umbro Trophy will spur his side on.

It brought to an end a 15 match unbeaten run but Waywell believes this set-back could have been a blessing in disguise.

"As crazy as it may sound, it came as a relief. Some of my players were starting to feel the pressure and although we had kept the sequence going over the last few weeks we haven't been playing as well as we have been earlier in the season.

"Now we can get back to enjoying our football again in front of a large crowd in a big cup game with a terrific reward if we are successful," said Waywell.

The Leigh boss will delay selection as long as possible giving long-term injury victim Mark Schofield as long as possible.

The big central defender trained last night and Waywell will see if there has been any reaction to the injury that as kept Schofield out of the last six games.

Certain to return is midfielder Tony Edwards, who missed the Droylsden defeat, but Waywell's formation will revolve around the decision on Schofield.

RMI from: Felgate, Charlton, Wheeler, Schofield, Hill, Walmesley, Booth, Edwards, Ridings, Shaw, Evans, Wallace, Bermingham, McKenna, Fahey.

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