I'd want them to pick Wigan, simply to deny Warrington the chance to win at KR.

. . . and to deny Wigan the last derby win at KR.

It's a no brainer.

Big pressure, but then Wigan crumble under pressure anyway

Looks like being a much tougher call for you guys this year compared to the choice Leeds had last year

Why risk a derby loss against Wigan when we could have a big pay day at the GF. For me the most logical choice would be the easiest game.

Wigan at home would be nice and a fitting send off, but I wouldnt be as confident playing the pies as I would playing Wires.

Just as a quick question.
Are we gonna be playing on the Friday or Saturday, and what time is KO?

Friday 8pm according to Saints site, although subject to change.

unfortunately, there is no big pay day getting to old trafford

Ok, cheers!

Whatever Is easier for us.

Theres a rumour doing the rounds at work that Saints v Wigan will be the last game at KR anyway, but on Boxing Day rather than in the play offs. Ive no fact whatsoever to base this on, other than chinese whispers as stated, but you wouldnt put it past Saints to pull something like that for the financial benefits it would achieve. Only after they've sold out the latest 'last game at KR' in two weeks tho!

I'd normally say go for the lowest placed side, so if Hudds or HKR win pick one of those, but........

Just noticed Mcguire out for rest of season so if one of those win do we send them to Leeds and take on the harder team at home.
Home advantage helps us knock out harder team.......Then Hudds/Hkr then either knock out injury hit Leeds giving us an [ieasier[/i final.

Or we take on an injury hit Leeds at O/T and get revenge.

Trouble is its a gamble taking on Wigan or Wire at home

Hmmm now thats a good point.

Was just going to post the same you lot are in a very good position

Leeds very understrengh even more so with mcguire out now, if us and wire get through do you let us knock 7 bells out of each other and you take leeds at home?

We can't pick Leeds. It's one of the conditions of qualifying at the first attempt.

Its possible our Eamonn McManus might have a say in it, he criticised the concept last year. So ethically he might request the club call is chosen against the lowest ranked team.

If there are no away wins at the weekend and we have to choose between Wigan And Warrington I would go for Wigan .........The perfect way to say goodbye to to Knowsley Rd.

Sod Ethics , we should choose the best game for Saints. We wont know that till the teams come through the next phases of games. I'd personally like to see us give the goons a good thrashing but we should pick the team who struggling the most.

The club call is a strangest thing about the "new" play-off system. As if a team picks any other team than the one that finished lowest - then it gives that team an added incentive to make it look like they made a mistake by picking them.

If either the giants or rovers win - then Saints will pick them; it's a no-brainer. If they both win, then I would think that Saints will choose rovers.

Failing that I would have thought that Saints would have picked wire - as psychologically I can't see them being able to turn things around without a couple of games to get their mojo back. This week they face playing a very difficult team in Huddersfield in what will probably be a pretty scrappy game. If they get past them then the prospect of having to go KR where they haven't won in an eternity is not going to be very appealing. Even if wire smash the giants; they will still not be that confident about getting a result. Especially as they started the last game so well and then fell away.

If Wigan get past Rovers, then sending them to Leeds will ensure that if Saints get past wire, they will be facing a team that are drained at Old Trafford. Due to the manner of the defeat, Wigan will be itching to get into Leeds and with the way that McGuire was booed after his injury, I am sure that Leeds will be up for a big game too. I wouldn't be surprised if there is either a mass brawl or/and players are sent off.

If Saints decide that they want the chance to avenge the last derby defeat and say goodbye to KR in style by beating Wigan then I think that this is more of a gamble than playing a demoralised wire team in a place they have not won in Super League.

I wonder how the club will make the decision? Will it be the board with the coaching staff or will the players be involved?

Last years club call was a bit of a damp squib. This year, it seems to be a bit more exciting.....maybe thats just because its Saints!

i think out of leeds, wire and pies, the team we want to face least in the final is wire. they have no injuires and showed at wembley that a big pitch suits them (lots of pace out wide). We should therefore choose wire to get rid of them in the semi.

if wire don't make it through, we should pick hudds. unless both wire and wigan lose in which case we should pick hkr.

I cannot see your reasoning here as you have lost 4 out of your last 6 home games. As for the club call, whoever we pick will be that bit more motivated because by picking them we are saying we think they are the lesser of the 2 teams available, we will be saving their coach a job by motivating his team for him.

Wigan losing to Leeds last weekend has given Leeds a good chance of getting to the final even without DM. Both Wigan and Wire have still got as good a chance as we have to get to OT. It is all going to depend on how much the teams are up for it come the semi's and the injuries that might occur in this weekends semi-qualifiers. This year it is anybodies but I would like to think it's ours.

I don't think you need to pick Wigan to do that. Just pick us and show up on the day.

It was a damp squib last year because the choice was between Wigan and Catalans. You didn't have to be Einstein to work out which one was going to be picked.

This time, if it's a choice of Wigan or Warrington, then there are so many factors that come into the equation that it makes it exciting for everyone involved

We owe Wigan one because they beat us earlier at KR. We just can't leave Knowsley Rd with that hanging over us. Pick Wigan an' smash 'em.