But coach and players are hoping they play their part in the proceedings by picking up the vital victory that could then ensure just one more appearance at the ground that has been their home since 1947.


"It's all about winning on Sunday!" said coach Neil Kelly. "I know there is going to be a lot of emotion and even some razzamatazz, but the players will play their part in everything that goes on, by picking up a win!
"And if that means we then get a home game in the play-offs then it is a bonus to have one more appearance at Hilton Park. That is certainly what we have set our sights on."


Understandably the Leigh board of directors and the club's marketing department are building on it being Leigh's last 'League' game at their famous home, and with nothing certain in sport they are right to do so.
But there won't be a single fan who would begrudge them a second farewell showing in the play-offs if they can pull off a win against Whitehaven and one at Batley the following week.


Whitehaven have put a good string of results together and have moved above Leigh into fourth spot in the table, being one point better off. But if Leigh can win on Sunday, then a win at Batley would see them into that fourth play off place and a home tie.
"There are lots of permutations," said Kelly. "But the simple fact is that we must win. If we don't then we can forget Hilton Park encores. We need to play for the full 80 minutes like we did for around 50 minutes against Celtic. If we do that then we will win.


"The more I look at the game in Wales the more frustrated I get. I feel we threw it away rather than being beaten. We dominated the first half, yet let in soft tries either side of the break. But we battled hard, and there are plenty of positives I can take from the game.
"Plus we didn't pick up any injuries, so that is good too. Not taking anything away from Celtic though, I felt we should have kept playing in the second like we did in the first. But we started going laterally instead of forward and we paid the price.
"We have to learn to take responsibility for a win more . We have to be more ruthless and recognise that we must put sides to the sword when we have them, otherwise they will come back and bite you, which happened at Celtic and has happened elsewhere this season.
"But with Lee Doran and Mike Morrison leading the way and Dennis Moran, Toa Kohe Love and Ian Watson all showing their class, we had the chance to stitch it up, and didn't. Certainly on that performance I would not be worried about playing Celtic home or away in the play-offs.

"We can match and beat anyone on our day. We just have to play smart for the full 80 minutes."

Whitehaven arrive on the back of 52-8 thrashing of Sheffield Eagles and Leigh traditionally have found them a hard side to beat.
Sunday promises to be one heck of cracking clash and hopefully it won't quite be the last at Hilton Park!



Congratulations to Leigh Reserves, who became Minor Premiership winners in the Reserve Teams First Division for the second successive season, after a 37-26 victory over Salford City Reds at Hilton Park, with the highlight of the game being the 17 point contribution of Dean Hatton.


To celebrate the final league game at Hilton Park, Leigh Centurions have produced a special limited edition programme looking back over the 61 years at Hilton Park, priced at £4.50.