There is a different story in the RL press about our injuries than has previously been relayed by Potter. According to the RL press, we will be without Wellens for 3 to 4 weeks and without Wheeler, Cunningham, Pryce and Armstrong for the Leeds game. Long and Roby look to be coming back, which in Long's case is the opposite to what Potter said last week. Potter also said last week that they are 'nursing' Wellens until after the 'busy Easter period' when he is due to have a knee operation.

So, frankly, I haven't a clue who will be on the pitch on Sunday. We may end up fielding a reserves/academy side as preparation for our future years of success.

We'd have to be on top form to beat that lot.

Without Smith and Buderus guess we will be:

Brent Webb
Scott Donald
Ashley Gibson
Keith Senior
Ryan Hall
Danny McGuire
Rob Burrow
Kylie Leuluai
Matt Diskin
Jamie Peacock
Jamie Jones-Buchanan
Carl Ablett
Kevin Sinfield

Ian Kirke
Ali Lauitiiti
Ryan Bailey
Luke Burgess

It's looking as though Wellens is out.

And possibly Lomax if his 'knock' to his ankle was bad enough.

assuming both sides are at full strength i have tipped saints by 4. i just feel we haven't really played as a team, wigan game excepted,as yet. saints have a big pack but it's in the backs they have the edge for me. hope i'm wrong mind

I think you do yourselves a disservice here.

The backs for Leeds are stronger for me whereas the strength for Saints is the forwards. If all the squad were fit, then I think Saints are stronger. However the reality is that Cayless is nothing like fit, Fa'asavalu isn't fully fit, Hargreaves I am yet to be convinced and Saints obviously have question marks over Wellens, Pryce, Long, Lomax, Wheeler etc. In Puletua though, we have a player who will make a massive difference for us in tight games.

It will be a hell of a battle this weekend, can't wait.

Mate i wish the above was turning out but apparently the saints physio is working overtime this week on a number of players!! We'll be lucky if we see any of these!

Wellens (knee)
Pryce (groin)
Cunningham (bicep)
Cayless (shoulder)
Wheeler (ankle)
Long (Leg)
Roby (ribs and arm)

Most of those are only minor knocks and should play on Sunday.

B0llocks I Bet The Majority If Not All Play...

If this the case (above) then I don't think Saints will have mush of a chance TBH.
Long AND Pryce out - both first and second choice hookers and first choice full back

A majority of the first choice 'Spine' out I'd expect Leeds to walk it.

This being said I seriously doubt that all of the above players will be watching the game from the stands.

Don't really care which players turn up in the Saints bus, fit and ready to play!

You can only beat the side that's put in front of you
<besides all those will be playing anyway!

>

Should be a really good game to watch, hope it is as fiery as the last one. Although they may take it a bit easier this time. Hope Bailey gets in their faces again, reminded me of older RL. Should be a close game but i'm tipping saints by 6. Think Leeds will have to improve alot to win this one, but they can go all out because they're in for an easy game the week after

.

Without all those I'd expect:

Meli
Gardner
Gidley
Foster
Armstrong
Lomax
Wilkin
Hargreaves
Flannery?
Graham
Gilmour
Puletua
Clough

Fa'asavalu
Ashurst
Emmitt?
Dean?

Dont give away silly penalties and we should be ok

Meli at FB !?!?!?!?! I really hope not.

Lomax

Gardner
Gidley
Gilmour
Meli

Pryce
Long

Graham
Cunningham
Hargreaves
Wilkin
Clough
Flannery

Fa'asavalu
Cayless
Roby
Puletua

Thats how I think Saints will line up. I cannot see Cunningham missing out and I think the rest of the stories are all a bit of mind games although I do think Wellens is probably out. The only one who is doubtful for me is Long.

Well, not quite mind games. It was very obvious on Friday that Cayless was having problems (isn't he always these days?), that Wheeler was helped off the pitch and that Pryce went into the dugout for attention (Sky showed it). So while those three may not be as bad as first seemed, they were all definitely injured. I didn't notice Lomax in trouble but clearly he was, or Cunningham, though that might have explained his relatively poor game. But add those to Long, Roby and Wellens (and one RL paper says what Potter previously says while the other RL paper says he's now out for 3-4 weeks), and that's a serious line up of injuries. Long was the big doubt that Potter mentioned, but that was prior to the Wakey game.

I guess we'll just have to see. Hopefully the painkilling injections will last the course for the game and then we can stick out a reserves team against Wigan and/or Hull!

Should be good afternoon of Rugby Football League, Cats v Dulls & Champions v Wannabe Champions

You really should have more confidence. You're not all that bad a team, honest!

this is the cc cup not grand final, so who is the daddy in it. deffo not leeds.

Both teams seem to be struggling to put their best team out recently. Leeds have Ali and Kire added to the team the other week, but have lost Smith.

Saints have Petulla & Meli back, but have doubts over Wellens and other players carrying knocks. It will be an interesting game

2 steps forward 1 step back, it seems. It really highlights the importance of a deep squad. Just look at Salford. No cash to get owt else in to plug their injury list. Salford are shipping in 40 points a game, they look well off the pace. Then look at Bradford, with Morrsion, injured again....shock horror!!! Apparently he bust his ligaments early doors in the Cas game but kept the injury private. Adamson comparisons seem to stand out. I wonder how badly playing with the injury will have increased his time in the stand? I mean he's out for 3 months. I as a coach would hardly be pleased with this. Steve Mc calls it courage (which I agree to a point it shows how tough it is, and it's not the first time he's done it), but it also falls into 'stupid' and 'not putting the team first'.

I think that we and St Helens have enough depth and quality in the rest of the squad to not have to risk players in this way. We also have faith in our acadamy to produce playesr of sufficient quality

St Helens by a good ten points as BENTham gives them all the calls

Not a chance of all those missing out, would spoil the game if they are out.