New referee for us, M Thomason.

Never heard of him?
National League generally I believe, sorry it's Championship now, isn't it?

On refs, I thought Merrick had a decent game last night.

Me neither. He's reserve for the Wigan v Huddersfield game tonight, has the Barrow v Halifax game tomorrow, touch judge for Sheffield v Dewsbury on Friday then referees us next Sunday.

Busy week!

Hope he's up to it and better than the French joker was last week (who's supposed to be Superleague standard, but isn't) it shouldn't be too bad for us, being against lower league opposition, although I imagine they will probably try to slow down the play the ball and be in our faces (maybe similar to Huddersfield, but probably not as good as they are at it).

However bad the ref is we should win comfortably provided Matterson doesn't decide to put the reserve side out.

keighley born and bred

I think he'll play quite a strong side. He's said we're going to have a stab at the cup this year.

I suspect TM will put out a strongish but by no means full strength team. Would have thought Sherwin will sit out, plus anybody else with a few knocks. Would like to see the full time youngsters get a run out.

In fact, I'd like to see something like:

1. Thompson/Owen
2. Ford
3. Arundel
4. Cording
5. Wainwright
6. Chase
7. McGoldrick
8. Boyle
9. Hudson
10. Feather
11. Massey
12. Widders
13. Faumuina

s. Walker
s. Gledhill
s. Netherton
s. Davies

Which should be more than enough to see off Keighley.

Not sure if Wainwright would feature after his knock to the head today.

I agree with that pretty much, Brent Sherwin should be left out along with any players who are not 100%. Hopefully TM will play some of the fringe players who can show him what they can do- as I imagine with the Easter period coming up, they should be vying for a place as I'm sure Matterson will try not to play the same team twice in three days if it can be helped.
Hopefully though, a couple of weeks rest for the likes of Evans, Jones and Higgins who presumably won't play against Keighley should or could be fresh enough to play in both fixtures.

Either way, I hope we show Keighley respect and we shouldn't allow an inch of complacency to creep in.

For what it's worth, here is what my team would be:

McGoldrick
Ford
Dixon
Arundel
Wainwright (Dependent on his head injury)
Chase
Faumuina
Boyle
Netherton
Feather
Massey
Gledhill
Widders

Thompson
Hudson
Huby
Ferres

I would have included both Walker and Cording, but I seem to remember reading that they had their loan deals extended to the end of the seaosn up at Gateshead...unless I imagined it!?

You're right.

id leave feather out, with his track record of freak injuries theres no point risking him in a game we should do ok in.... huby and boyle to start should be enough to go forward with

Matterson says whoever is fit will play despite him saying that i'd expect team to be something like :

1.McGoldrick
2.Thompson
3.Dixon
4.Arundel
5.Ford
6.Sione
7.Chase
8.Higgins
9.Netherton
10.Huby
11.Widders
12.Jones
13.Westerman

14.Shifty
15.Shenny
16.Sargent
17.Massey

... Should be enough to beat Keighley and not risk that many injuries.

You won't see those three on the bench. They'll either start or be rested altogether.