KEANAN Brand may be a recent Love Island signing but Craven Park will be Casa Amor for Adrian Lam if Leigh can open their Super League win account at Hull KR on Friday night.

The Leopards have received unlikely Brand awareness with the player’s appearance on the ITV game show.

But Leigh face Willie Peters’ unbeaten outfit on their latest date night looking for two points after opening defeats against Salford and Catalans Dragons.

Brand was a try scorer as Leigh suffered heartbreak at Rovers in last season’s Challenge Cup. And Lam is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his squad, expected to be bolstered by the return of Edwin Ipape and potentially new recruit, Joe Shorrocks.

A pre-season double hernia operation meant 24-year-old utility back Brand was always going to miss the start of the season.

“When Keanan first approached me about it, I spoke to Derek Beaumont and we are very supportive of him doing it,” explained Lam.

“As a club everyone in the squad is part of the family.

“We want to make sure everyone gets an opportunity in life whether it is through rugby league or other avenues in life.

“So, the club has got right behind him and the town is behind him. He is a funny guy and popular member of the squad.

“There are some funny scenes we are laughing at as a group. So, it is an opportunity to try and build them into part of our week.

“The focus though is to make sure we pick a squad strong enough to go to Hull KR, get an 80-minute performance and get that first win ticked off.

“Hull KR are flying at the moment. They will be a confident team so we have to try and upset their rhythm.

“For us, there has been a lot to be happy with but ‘near enough’ isn’t good enough. We put ourselves in positions to win both games but we let them slip away.

Hooker Ipape missed Leigh’s 14-6 defeat in Perpignan but Lam said of his compatriot: “Edwin is highly likely to play.”

Shorrocks started a two-week loan period earlier this week after his arrival from Wigan and trained with the squad on Tuesday.

“I have watched Joe since he was 14-15 in the Wigan system,” said Lam. “He is probably as fit as any player in the competition.

“He has big minute in him but he is also very skilful. His ability to work hard in the group means he can set standards for everyone. We are grateful to have him here.”

Joe Wardle is free to face the Robins after the RFL’s match review panel fined him £250 for his grade B striking off the ball charge against Catalans.