The pair suffered injuries in the defeat to St Helens in round three.

Leigh Leopards have received two further significant injury setbacks, with Tom Briscoe and John Asiata both set for long spells on the sidelines. The pair suffered calf tears during the club’s defeat to St Helens last Friday, and scans have confirmed both players have suffered grade two tears.

It means that both will miss a minimum of six weeks, which will leave them without the pair, as well as star hooker Edwin Ipape, until the end of April. Ipape ruptured his MCL minutes into the start of the season. It leaves the Leopards without three regular starters from last year’s successful side ahead of their game with Leeds Rhinos.

“It’s between six weeks and onwards, so it’s long-term for both of them,” Lam said. “It’s the same amount of time without Edwin as well, so we’re going to be without those three for a long time at the start of the season. But I’m OK with that, to be honest. It’s not ideal and completely different to what we’ve had in the past, and I’m sure that will improve as the season goes on.

“But it’s an opportunity for someone else to put their hand up and take the reins of the team in the middle there. We’ll change our game up there slightly to adjust, but from experience, teams that lose their most influential and star players at the start of the season, the ones that learn to play without them definitely benefit and go to another level when they come back and are there or thereabouts at the end of the season.”

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Lam also suggested that the pitch at the Totally Wicked Stadium may need checking after a number of players expressed concerns following the match.

“I think the players are still quite heavy-legged, and we’ve had to readjust the schedule to make sure they’re freshened up. But there were a lot of complaints about the heaviness of the field. No disrespect to St Helens and the ground, but the feedback was that it was very heavy underfoot, and three or four other players had tight calves and strains as well. It’s something we’re disappointed about, but we can’t change that outcome now. I just think that maybe the pitch needs to be looked at as well to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Briscoe’s injury would potentially increase the importance of securing a deal for Newcastle Knights star David Armstrong, a player Lam has publicly confirmed interest in. But the Leopards boss said: “It’s always an opportunity or chance to keep our eyes open for a player like that. I’ve made it very clear that he’s a player I’ve followed, supported and like the style he plays, he certainly suits us. It’s one that we’ll keep in the back pocket until an opportunity comes up, and we’ll keep our eyes open to players available who can make your team better. He’s certainly one of them, but we’ll probably know a bit more about that as the season unfolds.”

Leigh host a Leeds side that has won their last two games. The Leopards, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first win of the season after defeats to Huddersfield Giants and St Helens so far.