ADRIAN Lam has urged Leigh fans to turn out in force for the club’s long overdue appearance at a major showpiece occasion.

Centurions booked their place in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup final with a 30-12 victory over Sheffield Eagles.

Their opponents at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 28 (kick-off 12 noon) will be Championship leaders, Featherstone Rovers.

Leigh lifted the fourth of their Northern Rail Cup successes in 2013, won the 2014 Championship Grand Final and played in the Million Pound Game.

But their North London date, as curtain raiser to the Challenge Cup final between Lam’s previous club, Wigan, and Huddersfield, will be the highest profile stage for the club since the 1971 Wembley win over Leeds.

“If ever you wanted to support the team, it is now,” said Lam.

“This is what we live for: the opportunity to play for trophies in big games and at big stadiums.

“We have never been fortunate to play in the final in this competition before.

“But we are going along nicely.

“For our fans, I am very pleased for them, pleased for our owner, Derek, the Board, all the staff and all of the squad.

“Now, we have three weeks to get ready for Tottenham.”

Final opponents Featherstone are the current holders - they defeated York in last year’s final at Wembley.

Before then, Leigh face Batley and Workington to keep pace with Fev at the top of the Championship; starting at the Bulldogs next Monday before the Premier Sport cameras.

Batley are the only side to have taken a point off Featherstone courtesy of a 20-all draw back in March.

The Bulldogs have also won six of their other eight games and sit fourth in the table.

Centurions are winners of the last eight meetings between the teams since a 24-22 defeat in February, 2016.

That loss followed a pre-season piece of “banter” from owner Derek Beaumont after he suggested Centurions would win every Championship game that term.

*Winger Jy Hitchcox, scorer of two tries in four appearances in 2022, has joined League One Rochdale Hornets on a two-week loan.

*Warrington forward Rob Butler, who spent a brief loan spell at Leigh last season, has signed for Wakefield until the end of 2023.