BEN Flower and Nathan Peats are poised for Leigh debuts as head coach John Duffy looks to the Betfred Challenge Cup for a first win of the season.

Centurions host Huddersfield Giants in a third-round tie on Sunday-the first game at Leigh Sports Village for 13 months.

Both sides lost their opening two Super League fixtures but Duffy hopes the inclusion of Grand Final winning prop Flower and former State of Origin hooker Peats will ensure its third time lucky.

He’s certainly hoping for a big improvement after Good Friday’s 44-12 mauling at Warrington Wolves.

“It’s an important game for us but the pressure is probably off,” said Duffy. “As you know it can snowball from that first win so hopefully we can throw the ball about and get some confidence behind us.

“We have got to be better though than we were against Warrington. It was all too fast how the game started and our attitude wasn’t probably on.

“We didn’t take our training into the game so we know now we can’t have a minute or a session off.”

Flower, 33, hasn’t played because of a ruptured hamstring since a play-off semi-final win for Wigan against Hull FC last November.

“Benny has been back in training for three or four weeks and is chomping at the bit,” confirmed Duffy.

“He is a great leader and hopefully he will show that on the field. It will be good for other players around him because we have missed a bit of leadership and senior player authority on the field.”

Flower spent nearly 10 years at Wigan but is relishing his new career.

“It was sad to leave but as a player, no matter who you are, you are only passing through,” he said.

“I have got a fantastic experience at Leigh now, a chance to make a new bunch of friends and to pass on my experience to the younger boys.”

Peats played three games for New South Wales in 2017 and has bags of NRL experienced with South Sydney, Paramatta and Gold Coast Titans.

“He will bring a lot of energy and his defence is very good,” added Duffy of the 30-year-old Australian.

Joe Mellor has returned to full training after sitting out the Warrington game through injury but Matty Russell is doubtful though his ankle issue isn’t as bad as first thought.

Like Duffy, Giants’ boss and former Leigh hooker, Ian Watson, is waiting for his team’s opening victory of 2021.

After going down to Hull FC in their opening game, Huddersfield lost 20-10 to Catalans Dragons last week.

They will be without ex St Helens and Wigan forward Joe Greenwood who starts a three-game suspension for his red card against the French side.

Star half-back and 2020 Man of Steel contender Aiden Sezer is also unavailable with groin trouble.