KAI O’Donnell has only been in the country just over a week but he’s already had the low down on Leigh’s Championship rivalry with leaders Featherstone.

The two sides continue to set the pace at the top of the table, both with impressive Easter victories and Rovers upping the ante by signing former Toulouse skipper Johnathan Ford.

That news prompted Derek Beaumont to tweet: “We didn’t show interest in Ford or Kheirallah and were offered both.

“We are recruiting to strengthen but the players we bring in must do just that.”

Australian back rower O’Donnell, who can also cover hooker, made his debut off the bench in Centurions’ 36-6 Good Friday win at Widnes.

Avoiding defeat against London at LSV on Sunday will see Leigh return to the Championship summit; at least until next Monday night when Rovers travel to Bradford.

“I am familiar with it,” he said of Leigh’s battle for supremacy with Brian McDermott’s Fev.

“I am looking forward to the game already. I have been told it will be tough but it’s the one you want to play in.

“Everything we are doing is to take out the competition and get promoted.”

The former Canberra Raiders forward, 23, certainly enjoyed his first taste of the Championship.

“The crowd was crazy,” he admitted. “I have never really played in front of fans as passionate as that before. So, it was great.

“Given the circumstances, I thought I went alright but there is room for improvement.

“The game was competitive for the first half, but Widnes died off and we played for the full 80. It is good to know we can push out 80-minute performances.

“I had a little interest in Australia but I was keen to get over here. Covid slowed a lot of things down so it is good to get this opportunity and re-start my apprenticeship with rugby league.

“It’s about putting the building blocks in place again (for career) but all I am focused on now is winning the competition here,” added O’Donnell who will be re-united soon with partner and seven-month-old daughter.

Sunday’s meeting will be the first with London for nearly four years. And Adrian Lam’s side will look to maintain an impressive recent record against their visitors.

Leigh have won nine of their last 10 meetings; the only reverse a 29-20 defeat at the Hive, Barnet in 2015.

Winners of the 2018 Million Pound Game against Toronto, Broncos now find themselves second from the bottom of the Championship with just one draw to show from their opening eight games.