Northern Rail Cup Final - Hull KR v Leigh Centurions

HULL KR travel to Bloomfield Road, Blackpool to defend the Cup they won last season and this campaign's 100 per cent record.

The match has an added edge because it was the Centurions who denied Rovers the Northern Rail Cup two years ago.

Rovers coach Justin Morgan said: "It's a big match. It's the first trophy of the season and we are determined to enjoy our day, just as we did last season.

"It's been business as usual this week. I tell the players they need to prepare properly for each game so the only real difference this week is that we will train on Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

"We are proud of our 100 per cent record and want to keep that going but we know that Leigh are one of our main rivals in the league as well as the cup and both sides will be looking to get an edge on the other."

Rovers welcome back Michael Smith, and Francis Stephenson, who made his comeback last weekend against Halifax, is expected to start. The main doubt is halfback James Webster who injured a hamstring against Halifax but Morgan said: "If anyone can recover in seven days it's him, he has special recovery powers. We will give him right up to Saturday because he is such a key part of our team."

Centurions will start as underdogs but coach Tony Benson sees plenty of positives going into the match.

He said: "Rovers are a very good side and they have shown that against engage Super League teams. They gave it to us earlier in the season so we've got something to prove.

"But we started this campaign at Blackpool and our defence was very tight back then and in recent games I have seen us getting back to that after a spell when we suffered some injuries.

"I don't think they have been put under too much pressure this season so it is up to us to defend well and then put them under pressure when we attack and see where that takes us. Everybody has got to be on his game then we can certainly test them."

Leigh have no serious injury worries and will welcome back Ricky Bibey after suspension.

NORTHERN RAIL CUP FINAL STATS

(compiled by Ray Fletcher)

HULL KINGSTON ROVERS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

At Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, Sunday 16 July (2.30pm)

TRIPLE FINALISTS

Three players are set to appear in a record third National League Cup final, including LEROY RIVETT (Hull K.R.) who has appeared in a final with both teams. He was in the Leigh Centurions side that lost in 2003 and picked up a winner's medal with Hull Kingston Rovers last year.

Leigh hooker PAUL ROWLEY was a loser in the 2003 final and a winner when they beat Hull K.R. 42-14 in 2004. Hull K.R. forward MAKALI AIZUE was a loser against Leigh in 2004 and a winner last year.

FINAL SURVIVORS

MAKALI AIZUE and TOMMY GALLAGHER are likely to be the only Hull Kingston Rovers' survivors from the squad that lost 42-14 to Leigh Centurions in the 2004 final at Rochdale.

Leigh's PAUL ROWLEY and DANNY HALLIWELL could be facing Hull K.R. in a final for a second time.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Hull Kingston Rovers' 30-6 home victory this season ended a run of six successive defeats against Leigh Centurions.

Last five seasons

2002 Leigh 18 v Hull KR 38 League Cup

Leigh 29 v Hull KR 24 League match

Hull KR 18 v Leigh 12 League match

2003 Hull KR 17 v Leigh 28 League match

Leigh 54 v Hull KR 4 League match

Leigh 42 v Hull KR 12 League Play off

2004 Hull KR 8 v Leigh 35 League match

Leigh 42 v Hull KR. 14 Nat. League Cup Final at Rochdale

Leigh 26 v Hull KR 22 League match

2005 No meetings

2006 Hull KR 30 v Leigh 6 League match

SUPER INCENTIVE

The first three winners of the National League Cup went on to win promotion to Super League at the end of the season: Huddersfield Giants (2002), Salford City Reds (2003) and Leigh Centurions (2004).

Hull Kingston Rovers halted the trend last year when they beat Castleford Tigers in the final, but it was the latter who later gained promotion to engage Super League.

PREVIOUS NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP FINALS

Known as the Buddies League Cup Final in 2002, Arriva Trains Cup Final in 2003 and 2004, and Northern Rail Cup Final since last year.

2002 Huddersfield Giants 32 Hull Kingston Rovers 6

T: Reilly, Thorman, T: Everitt

Turner, Roberts, Hallas G: Charles

G: McNamara (6)

Venue: Featherstone; Attendance: 4,352

Referee: Steve Nicholson (Whitehaven); HT: 18-0

2003 Salford City Reds 36 Leigh Centurions 19

T: Arnold, Littler, Hunte, T: Turley, Munro,

Kirk, Coley, Haggerty Rivett, Swann

G: Blakeley (5), Charles G: Turley (1, dg)

Venue: Rochdale; Attendance: 6,486

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan); HT: 20-5

2004 Leigh Centurions 42 Hull Kingston Rovers 14

T: Halliwell (2), Knox (2), T: Poucher, Thorburn

Turley, Cooper, Martyn G: Stott (3)

G: Turley (6, dg),

Martyn (dg)

Venue: Rochdale; Attendance: 4,383

Referee: Colin Morris (Huddersfield); HT: 26-8

2005 Hull Kingston Rovers 18 Castleford Tigers 16

T: Raleigh, Ford T: Platt, Hepworth

G: Morton (5) G: Huby (4)

Venue: Blackpool; Attendance: 9,400

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield); HT: 2-10