FORMER Leigh favourite John Duffy will be plotting to ensure his old club’s campaign for Super League survival gets off to a losing start.

Centurions start and end their Middle 8s campaign against Championship opposition, including their opening fixture at newly appointed coach Duffy’s Featherstone Rovers on Saturday, August 5.

The 37-year-old, who played more than 200 games for Leigh in his various spells, took charge of Rovers for the first time in last Saturday’s 32-26 defeat in Toulouse.

Rovers finished fourth in the game’s second tier, eight points behind leaders, Hull KR, who provide Leigh with their first home test of the Middle 8s on Saturday, August 12.

Neil Jukes’ side virtually confirmed their historic promotion at Rovers last September.

But Tim Sheens’ Humbersiders gained a measure of revenge by knocking Leigh out of the Challenge Cup earlier this year.

The Middle 8s schedule continues with a testing trip to Steve McNamara’s Catalans Dragons on August 19.

The players will then have one last break for the Challenge Cup final on August 26 before facing four more fixtures to decide their fate for 2018.

Leigh entertain Widnes on Sunday, September 3, travel to last season’s Grand Finalists, Warrington, on Sunday, September 9, host Halifax in the final home game of 2017 on Friday, September 15 before travelling to London Broncos on Friday, September 22.

The top three teams will automatically their Super League status while clubs finishing fourth and fifth play-off in the Million Pounds game.

*Prop Gareth Hock and centre Ben Crooks are already doubtful for the opening game after suffering game ending, first half injuries in the 25-0 win over Widnes.

Crooks left Leigh Sports Village wearing a protective boot while Hock appeared to suffer a recurrence of recent knee trouble.