ADRIAN Lam hopes Super League’s wave of cards doesn’t put Leigh’s play-off ambitions in jeopardy.

Leopards host Hull KR on Friday (kick-off 8pm) looking to reverse a run of four successive defeats against their League Leaders’ Shield chasing visitors.

A 10th victory in 11 outings will leave Lam’s side on the cusp of a season extension that seemed unlikely a few months ago.

While debate rages on over red cards for head contact and increased gamesmanship, Lam believes a more pragmatic approach is needed for some lesser collisions.

“There are different actions that should be graded on,” said the Leopards’ boss.

“If there is head contact that is a completely different matter.

“If it’s tackling a player in the motion of passing let’s just be smart about it. Some of the sin bins seem as though they are unnecessary at the moment.

“One of the areas we (Leigh) are trying to address is to stay off the yellow cards. We want to see every team play with 13 players; we don’t want to see yellow cards.

“It is the last thing we need in our game. Rugby league is hard enough with 13 against 13 let alone one player short.

“If it is 50-50, keep the players on the field and review it later.”

Skipper John Asiata was yellow carded in last Friday’s win at Castleford but received no extra punishment from the match review panel and will line-up against the Robins.

“But if you get hit in the head you are going to get you are going to get sin binned or sent off. There is no grey area about it,” added Lam.

Leigh’s four defeats since last season’s historic Challenge Cup win have all come in east Hull, including 12-0 loss in June.

Hooker Edwin Ipape is Leopards’ main doubt with a rotator cuff issue.

Rovers, beaten at Wigan last week to dent their top of the table hopes, have former Leigh forward Jai Whitbread suspended, “You can see as a team they are connected,” said Lam of Hull KR.

“They know how to win and score points.

“If you don’t complete high and give them too much ball they will certainly hurt you.

“All our hard work we have done could be undone in two games. We have to make sure we take control of ourselves.”

Fifth placed Leigh are a point and one rung of the ladder behind Salford who play bottom of the table Hull on Saturday.

Sixth placed St Helens and seventh placed Leeds-both a point behind-entertain Castleford and visit Wigan respectively on Friday night. Catalans, who are two points adrift, host London on Saturday.

Ipape and Kai O’Donnell have been nominated for August’s Glen’s Vodka Super League player of the month together with KR pair, Peta Hiku and Mikey Lewis, plus Rhyse Martin of Leeds and Wigan’s Jake Wardle.

Lam has saluted the efforts of Leopards’ women who head into the play-offs having won all16 Championship games, including a final 24-0 win at Stanningley.

“There is still a little way for them to go but the way they have carried themselves as a team and a unit has been amazing,” he said. “We are proud of them all and they are working hard to finish the season on a high.”

Kieron Purtill’s side next hosts Oulton Raidettes on Sunday at Twist Lane for the right to face Sheffield Eagles or Salford in the Championship North Grand Final.

The Northern champions then play Southern winners, London Broncos, before a promotion finale against Super League’s bottom club, Featherstone Rovers.