KURT Haggerty believes Leigh can still pull-off a great escape this season providing they can avoid a fixture pile-up.

Centurions’ interim head coach takes his side to Leeds Rhinos tonight (Thursday) aiming to make it 13th time lucky after a dozen previous defeats.

No team has played more Super League matches this season than Leigh who, so far, have avoided postponements caused by coronavirus outbreaks.

Or, in this week’s case of Castleford, forfeiting points for not being able to name a 17-man squad. Leeds’ win at Salford last Sunday was their first outing for nearly a month.

Leigh haven’t escaped injuries and half back Ben Reynolds suffered a potentially season ending knee problem at Warrington last week.

But as Haggerty said: “We are getting bodies returning and numbers are back up in training.

“For us, the more games we can play, the better chance we have of staying up.

“I think every week is ‘going to be the week.’ Wins can come in the unlikeliest of places at times- like going to Headingley on a Thursday night.

“For the club, not just the players, one win will give everyone the confidence and belief that we can actually go on and do something special.

“But generally, schedule wise with midweek games, it is difficult for the players and takes its toll on the bodies.”

Haggerty’s latest squad sees the returns of Alex Sidlow, Keenan Brand and Alex Gerrard but Tyrone McCarthy, while recovering well, can’t be considered after his collision with Wire’s Sitaleki Akauola.

“Ben could be a couple of months and it might even be worse,” confirmed Haggerty. “We are waiting on the final details of his scan.”

Blake Wallace hasn’t featured since a Challenge Cup defeat to Huddersfield on April 12. “Blake has serious concussion issues so we are taking daily checks,” added Haggerty.

Ryan Brierley needs two tries to reach 200 in his career and two tries to go level with John Woods in second place on the club’s all-time try scoring list.

Leeds are without three suspended players including former Centurions forward, Bodene Thompson, and England international Luke Gale plus head knock victim, Konrad Hurrell.

Thompson is banned for one game for his part in a first half flashpoint at Salford last Sunday which saw centre Hurrell knocked out by Red Devils skipper, Lee Mossop.

Gale was only sin binned for throwing punches at Ryan Lannon in a separate incident but then received a two-game suspension from the match review panel.

Alex Mellor initially also collected a one-game ban for making contact with referee Chris Kendall in the same game.

Richie Myler, scorer of two tries in the Rhinos’ 38-12 victory, misses out with a dislocated finger.

“Leeds still have good personnel to come in so we know how good they can be,” warned Haggerty.