KIERON Purtill refuses to go overboard by Leigh’s upturn in fortunes ahead of Sunday’s bid for a fourth successive Betfred Championship success.

Centurions entertain Rochdale Hornets at the Leigh Sports Village (3pm) buoyed by an Easter double over Swinton and London Broncos.

And while Purtill waits to discover if his caretaker position will become anything more permanent, Leigh’s transformation is raising the club’s profile with possible head coach candidates.

Owner Derek Beaumont raised eyebrows with a recent admission about a lack of interest in the vacant position.

However, three straight league wins, including a 31-18 victory against top four rivals Broncos, have lifted Leigh towards the top four.

“It probably wasn’t a real appetising vacancy for some people the position we were in after Neil (Jukes) left,” admitted Purtill.

“But Derek is honest, probably too honest sometimes. We are still not getting carried away with a couple of wins.

“It is a long season and we need to keep winning to get in the top four.

“But for me, I am enjoying the challenge. It is a roller coaster; the wins are good and the losses not so good with bits in between.

“I don’t need to look at the league table because we just need to keep winning. Hopefully we will end up in the right position.”

Hornets have won only one of their seven Championship games but pushed Toronto to the wire before losing 18-17.

“We will treat Rochdale like we did London,” added Purtill. “They have got some good players and are boosted by the dual registration with Warrington.

“Sometimes it is hard to preview teams like that because you are not sure who they are going to get in.

“They have been competitive most of the games, particularly against Toronto, pushing them all the way.”

Leigh’s only disappointment from the Easter programme was the loss of front row Paterika ‘Paddy’ Vaivai in the first minute of the game with ankle trouble.

“It was a big loss to lose Paddy because in the last few weeks he had started to find his feet again and playing really well,” agreed Purtill.

“But apart from Daniel Mortimer, who is still a few weeks away, we are pretty healthy at the moment.”

Purtill is also pleased by the transformation in Leigh’s form.

“The thing we are doing differently now is working hard for each other and not working hard as individuals,” he explained.

“We are turning up as a team and working hard as team. It’s been a simple message.

“If you turn up and perform on game day then you will get the rewards. If you don’t someone else will get the opportunity.

“That’s what we have been building in training as well. It’s not just about game day.

“You have got to do the right things because ultimately it leads to doing the right thing on game day.”