LEIGH put their six-match winning run on the line when they face Super League Hull KR on Saturday (3pm) for a place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Centurions and coach Adrian Lam must improve their collective and individual records against Tony Smith’s hosts.

However, Lam, beaten twice as Wigan boss by the Robins in 2021, said: “We are looking forward to the challenge.

“Going there will be a tough job but it (Super League) is where we want to be.”

Monday’s 26-16 win at Halifax lifted Leigh into second place in the Championship, a point behind Featherstone after Rovers’ 20-all draw against Batley last Sunday.

But Hull KR, cup runners-up in 2015 under Leigh head of rugby, Chris Chester, will provide Centurions’ stiffest appointment since losing at Fev in round two.

The visitors must also contend with a seven-game losing streak against the Robins including a heart-breaking cup defeat at Craven Park in 2020; one of three successive cup defeats to the Humberside outfit.

Lam knows Leigh can ill afford a sluggish opening to the game against opponents currently ninth in the top flight after two wins from six matches.

“We didn’t start well at Halifax and that put us under pressure in that first half,” he agreed.

“At half-time, I made it pretty clear what we needed to do; the second half was a lot better.”

Mark Ioane, an influential substitute at the Shay, will miss the tie with a suspected medial cruciate knee ligament injury.

James Bell, another outstanding performer after coming off the replacements bench is unlikely to play as part of his dual registration agreement with St Helens.

“James was brilliant,” agreed Lam. “He has got a lTot of speed for this competition and we have players who run good lines for him.

“He changed the game when he came on. James is well thought of and respected with our administration and our players.

“Any time we can get a player of his quality here we will work hard to do that more often.”

With absentees in mind for the weekend, Lam restricted Adam Sidlow and John Asiata to just first half action.

Forward Tom Amone dedicated his first senior try to son Levi who celebrated his third birthday on Wednesday.

“If we want to win this competition and go into Super League next year, we have got to match teams now like Hull KR,” said Amone.

“We have gone pretty well this year with just the one loss so don’t write us off.”