Perry is back so early because ihis injury was no where near as bad as first expected from the initial diagnoses.

Its a shame, because the rest of the team (save hooker) looks capable - fast backs, big forwards, heavy bench.
The problem will again be steering the ship.

I really hope we get to see Thompson.

Easiest decision ever, enjoy your weekend off LMS.

Probably Saints just being too optimistic at the beginning.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of shape Perry is in. He usually comes back from injury looking like he's done his rehab at the heart attack grill.

Despite his continually disappointing performances, though, I think it won't do us any harm to have a bit of experience and size back in the pack. Manu in particular should help to bring a bit of variety to our attack.

Win or lose, though, (and I think we'll win this one) it's going to be a botch job while we're turning out half back partnerships like the one we're likely to see.

Perry has always had (the potential for) decent performances in him when he's actually on the pitch. The only games he really can't seem to handle are the faster paced ones - typically against Wigan or Wire. The Chemics have a pretty heafty pack, so a bit of meat in the middle may well help as you suggest.

I'm hoping we'll be able to beast them up the middle enough that our decision making isn't too much an issue, but I said that about London. The problem is people really fancy their chances agains us at the moment.

You saints fans are a bit negative your playing widnes ffs our defence has more holes than swiss chesse you will put 30 on us min.

Doubt Hohaia and Ashe would put 30 on if we were actually playing swiss cheese.

I fear another embarrassment. At least it will only take 15mins to get back home this time.

Have you seen Saints play lately?

Have you seen widnes lately?
Where absolute pants against cas and wakey.
And struggled to beat Doncaster at home.

Both teams are that bad, we could see a negative scoreline.

Perry needs a run out. I don't think Brown will want to run Thompson out too many times in a row. He probably would not have run Percival out so much if it was not for injuries.

My choice would be

1. Paul Wellens,
2. Ade Gardner, 3. Jordan Turner, 30. Mark Percival, 21. Tom Makinson,
6. Lance Hohaia, 23. Nathan Ashe,
8. Josh Perry, 36. Stuart Howarth. 16. Paul Clough,
4. Sia Soliola,14. Anthony Laffranchi,
11. Tony Puletua,

13. Willie Manu, 19. Josh Jones, 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 25. Alex Walmsley, ,

I'd go as big as I could up front for the opening 20. Then bring impact on all over the field. I'd like to see Makinson and Percival partner up as we may be doing that next year.

Wellens may as well play FB, given the shortage of wingers.

No, no, no.

Keep Makinson there and let him develop his game.

Jones can slot in at Centre, Percival on the wing.

Waste of Percival on the wing for me.

The boy has talent and so should develop that playing against more experienced centres

If we were in a better position then he could play centre, but because we are not he has to play where he is needed.

Makinson has started every game at FB since Lomax has been out, there is no point changing that thinking now.

Anyway, Jones was our best player on Saturday playing inside Percival, so it is not such a bad thing.

I agree with this completely. I'd much rather sacrifice Percival's talents slightly by playing him on the wing than sacrifice the whole team by putting Wellens back at 1.

He and Jones worked well together against London, instrumental in our final try. While it would be great to have Percival in his proper position, I think he's doing ok on the wing at present. Better him than shunting Makinson out of fullback just when (a) he was developing his game, and (b) the team were getting used to his style of play.

Both teams playing crap at the moment and Saints should win.

Sadly I suspect he'll find a space for wello to take up.

We've got to keep Steamboat Wello out of that full back position, if we don't what little threat we have will be reduced to nothing and we'll be starting sets 10-20 metres further back.

No excuses given that squad. No injuries to blame there.

I just worry where he's going to slow play down and generally get in the way next ....

Other than we have salfords turd 3rd choice hooker and no halfbacks to speak of.. and of course Wello will be playing (somewhere)

Some fine excuses if you ask me