LEIGH RMI jump from one cup competition to another tonight as they entertain Radcliffe Boro in the Unibond Challenge Cup.

Saturday's excellent victory over Marine in the FA Cup was the club's 14th game of the season, of which only eight have been league fixtures.

By contrast, Radcliffe have played 12 which have taken them to second place in the table, four points better off than sixth placed Leigh.

But the Railwaymen are the form team, unbeaten now in 13 games and the Challenge Cup could give manager Steve Waywell the opportunity to test the strength of his large squad.

"It is an ideal time to rest one or two players, even if it means just giving them a place on the bench," said Waywell.

"Games are coming thick and fast and my players just haven't got time to recover from niggling injuries, but I was pleased Graham Hill came through the Marine game OK."

Waywell has major doubts over Dave Ridings and Mick Wallace, who both have calf injuries, while Paul Wheeler is struggling with a shin problem. Teenage fullback Gary Jones is drafted in to cover.

Squad: Felgate, Wheeler, Wallace, Hill, Charlton, Booth, Bermingham, Ridings, Shaw, Evans, Edwards, Walmesley, McKenna, Fahey, Jones. Boro press officer David Johnston said: "We need to get things right against Leigh because they have been in such outstanding form."

"We seem to have lost our way that little bit in our last two games and we've not been finishing things off like we should have been."

Manager Kevin Glendon rang the changes on Saturday when things were not going to plan in the home game against Netherfield. His side had not looked impressive and immediately the visitors took the lead halfway through the second half he made a bold triple substitution. The infusion of striker Peter McCrae, Graham Haddon and Loz Greenhalgh made all the difference to earn an eventual, valuable 1-1 draw leaving Glendon with a host of permutations for the RMI game.

THE FA Cup draw yesterday paired the winners of tonight's Bamber Bridge/Atherton LR replay with an away tie at either Newcastle Town or Frickley Athletic. There is little doubt for many that Saturday's game saw LR with the opportunity to have made sure of that place in the fourth qualifying round at the first time of asking.

Sadly that just wasn't to be, but Rovers have every reason to feel confident. Going into the replay, Bamber looked anything but impressive at Crilly Park and certainly looked vulnerable at the back. LR manager Dave Morris will keep the same squad as Saturday and it's fingers crossed that Rovers can go one better.

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