With Saints it's all about away form. 1 win from 10 all year and 5 of their remaining 8 are away from home. Realistically they need to win at least 3 of those 5 away games to have a chance which will be a big ask given their away record.

Really need to beat Wakey away this weekend which won't be easy, whilst a loss wouldn't rule them out mathematically by any stretch I think they just need to start showing they can win away. Also a loss and probable 6th spot would result in away trips to Cas and Leeds.

Can't be a***d with the maths minutae but long winning sequences are pretty rare events these days. Saints and Wigan will struggle to make the play offs IMO.

When does Barba get to play - he could really be the x-factor for Saints

One of those would almost certainly be Hull though (if Wakefield and Salford are losing all their games, Hull are winning at least 2 meaning saints need to gain 4 wins in 8 games, Wigan/Hudds 5)

I don't discount a team imploding, Salford arent in the greatest form at the moment, but when you talk about Saints getting in you need 2 teams to really struggle, Wigan/hudds its 3/4 teams to really struggle.

Personally i think its 4 of the current top 5 with an outside chance Saints could sneak in. Could very well be guaranteed to be that after this weekend as we play Wigan, Saints v Wakefield and Hull v Hudds, 3 home wins and Wigan Hudds Saints are realistically out

The 4th round of the 8's. Can they stay in touch between now and then?

Depends on their fixtures - so if its Huddersfield, Wakefield, Salford maybe if its Cas, Leeds and Wigan maybe not

After tonight's games:

HOME - St. Helens, Wigan Warriors, Hull FC, Wakefield Trinity/Salford Red Devil's.
AWAY - Castleford Tigers, Huddersfield Giants, Salford Red Devil's/Wakefield Trinity.

Wakefield get beat by St. Helens by 15 or more points then we have Salford at home & Wakefield away.

I'm very happy with them fixtures.

I reckon if we win 4 then we are guaranteed in the playoffs, 5/6 should give us a home semi final, very doable considering the only game we wont be favourites will be cas away

Looking at the table Castleford are guaranteed a top 4 place already.

When are the fixtures released?

I would have thought this week. so teams can get their plans in place for travel, tickets and hospitality and such

Weds

Wakefield beaten by more than 15 this afternoon so means Wakefield away and Salford home. No trips outside of Yorkshire needed in the super eights.

I think in a few weeks time there might be a team papping themselves at the prospect of finishing way in front of 2nd place and having to play Wigan to make the Grand Final. It's Leeds v Wigan at Old Trafford for me.

I agree. IMO The intensity of wigan's defence will make them very hard to beat for rest of year. I also think saints will be tough to beat and are on an upward curve. There will be some tough games coming for all and other than Cas being top, the others all have a scrap on.

Imagine the furore and gnashing of teeth in Cas having finished the regular season 10 points in front, go on to win the Super 8s by a country mile, in the process thrash Leeds for a 4th time this season, to subsequently get beaten by Wigan (or Hull) in the SF, who then lose to Leeds in the GF. Fanciful prophecy most likely, but boy would that be funny! It would make the protestations (from Saints, Wigan etc) after us winning from 5th pale into insignificance! I wouldn't have laughed so much since Tansey made Iestyn Harris lose his rag at Cardiff.

Cas have proven a lot of people wrong this season, and they've been head and shoulders in the weekly rounds.........but, I feel like you can see this coming a mile off.

They'll wrap top spot up with weeks remaining, have nothing to play towards for a month and then they'll be knocked off in the semi by the more experienced saints/wigan.

No doubt that now we've posted it, the opposite will probably happen.

My view now would be
1. Cas
2. Leeds
3. Saints
4. Hull

Saints with Barba in the team will be a tough side to beat - Cas v Saints GF?

The fact that Cas have only 2 games that now really count this season, one being a home semi final and the other being the GF should they get there may not be the ideal preparation to win those games going by past experiences,although it could be this year due to the complete lack of quality sides in SL that could beat them

Cas really need to keep their foot firmly on the pedal IMO despite being given a bye into the semi's and keep doing what they have done all season in order to win the GF.

If they do then the LLS and the massive gap at the top of the SL table will be fully justified and they will sit proudly amongst the only other previous GF winners of Saints, Wigan, Bradford and Leeds.

Wigan are the dark outsiders with lots of points still to make up, but if they do get the wins and make 4th then I could actually see them beating Cas in the semi's if they are under done and have already had their GF suits made

The winner of our CC semi final will not make the GF IMO

With regard to Cas,I cannot really see DP allowing anyone to take their foot off the gas.It's just not in his DNA.On the flip side I can see him rotating his squad sensibly;I reckon they will keep banging sides [uunless[/u they suffer injuries to pivotal players aka Gale,or McShane.They will possibly come unstuck in a one off winner takes all semi but don't bank on it.Good luck to them but not at Leeds' expense.

I'd back us, Saints or Wigan to beat Cas when it mattered.

Cas don't have two big games in them at all.

A few weeks ago I would have agreed with you, but watching the cas performance at Catalan has changed my mind. Thought cas showed a great deal of spirit and resilience in coming from behind to win. They also have the advantage of not being involved in the challenge cup final. Staging the cup final just when the seasons play offs is underway is ridiculous.

Catalan are pants. Not much to beat really.

We've already seen in a game that mattered, CC QF, they fell to pieces.

Understanding the Eights So we’ve reached the great divide, and the split into five divisions has taken place. But what actually happens now? It's pretty complicated but we will try to simplify it here to assist your enjoyment over the rest of the season, and hopefully spike your interest in what is going on in the competitions where your own club doesn't have a direct interest. Across five new competitions there is everything to play for. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Understanding the Eights So we’ve reached the great divide, and the split into five divisions has taken place. But what actually happens now? It's pretty complicated but we will try to simplify it here to assist your enjoyment over the rest of the season, and hopefully spike your interest in what is going on in the competitions where your own club doesn't have a direct interest. Across five new competitions there is everything to play for. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

so the 3 times we smashed your lot this season were games that didn't matter?