IAIN Thornley believes Leigh will be in prime position for a thrilling end of season run-in providing John Duffy’s side comes through a campaign defining period of away fixtures.

Starting with Sunday’s trip to Dewsbury Rams, Centurions face five successive road trips before returning to Leigh Sports Village against Batley on July 21.

Only three times - at Swinton, Batley and against Widnes at Summer Bash - have Leigh won Championship away games this year.

The remaining eight victories have come in front of their own fans including last Sunday’s impressive 52-20 triumph over Bradford Bulls.

And Thornley, who has 13 tries in 20 appearances, says it’s time to redress the balance.

“These are the games that are the toughest to go and play,” agreed the former Wigan, Hull KR and Catalans Dragons star.

“To show you are a good team you’ve got to go to the likes of Dewsbury and Barrow and win.

“It’s a real test coming up especially with three games in seven games so we have got to knuckle down. If we win all those games we are going to be sitting well.”

After Dewsbury, Leigh ‘host’ Barrow in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup quarter-finals they go on to Sheffield, Featherstone and Barrow.

The run will be a big test of Duffy’s part-timers including Thornley who, however, says he’s adapting to a new lifestyle.

“It’s certainly different for me after playing Super League full-time for the best part of 10 years.

“It’s been a change but it’s also helped me as well get ready for life after rugby. And the club has helped me massively in that and I owe them a lot.

“You have to change a few things but I feel like I have got it under control.”

Thornley describes Leigh’s win over Bradford as among the best of the season.

“We had a tough time when we went over to Bradford and we lost at Halifax as well earlier in the season. So, it’s been good to return the favour on both of them and open up a bit of a gap on them.”

“We always have a go and always go out to win. Sometimes things don’t go your way or you don’t stick to the plan and that’s why you lose games.

“We played 20 minutes against Bradford with 12 men but the main thing is we got the two points.”

Winger Stefan Marsh (groin) is Duffy’s main injury concern after picking-up his injury late on.