Ricky Bibey returns for Leigh Centurions cup clash against Wath Brow Hornets (From This Is Lancashire)

Ricky Bibey returns for Leigh Centurions cup clash against Wath Brow Hornets

1:55pm Thursday 4th March 2010 in

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LEIGH Centurions’ first-choice front rower will make his third debut for the club on Sunday.

Ricky Bibey, a key off-season signing from Super League side Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, has been sidelined since November with a back injury that required surgery.

But now the 29-year-old has reached full fitness and boss Ian Millward can not wait to see him in action against amateurs Wath Brown Hornets in the third round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

"Ricky will start the game," confirmed Parkinson.

"I held him back from the Barrow and Dewsbury games because I didn't think he would be hardened enough - I knew they'd be pretty tough games.

“But having said that he'll play against Wath Brow and we'll then look at him for the Keighley and Whitehaven games.

"The biggest blow we've had is that Ricky hasn't played a game and he's missed a lot of training with us so his interaction among the group hasn't been a lot, which has probably disappointed Ricky more than anything, but he's trained really hard and probably come back just as quick as we anticipated.

“We were always waiting for the surgeon to give him the okay.

"It will take a little time for him to get going but he'll be valuable for us.

“He's a good front rower, he's been a consistent forward in Super League for the last couple of years and played well. He can only be a good addition for us.”

Bibey’s selection will be one of several changes expected from the line ups against Barrow at the weekend and Dewsbury last night, Wednesday.

"I won't play any of our (four) dual contract players against Wath Brow because it will cup-tie them,” said Millward.

“I think it's only fair and a fact of life that they've got a better chance of being in a final and I don't want to take that away from them.

“As much as we'd like to go as far as we can in the Challenge Cup and draw a really good team, hopefully getting a big home game, our focus is on the Northern Rail Cup and the Championship."

Tickets are available for all three Carnegie Challenge Cup ties taking place at the Sports Village this weekend.

Action starts tomorrow, Friday, with Leigh Miners Rangers entertaining Whitehaven, kick off 7.30pm, and continues on Saturday, 3pm, when unbeaten Conference leaders Leigh East host Hunslet Hawks, while Sunday has the game between Leigh Centurions and Wath Brow.

Prices are £10 adults, £5 concessions, while Centurions season ticket holders can get to see the Wath Brow game for free upon production of their passes.

The draw for the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup will take place at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium on Monday at 7.35pm. Leigh Journal will be there and publishing the draw at leighjournal.co.uk straight after completion.