Well the club are reporting via Twitter that Pryce, Graham, Wellens and Wheeler are all injured.

If those 4 don't play, i can see something like:

Foster
Gardner
Shenton
Lomax
Meli
Wilkin
Eastmond
LMS
Roby
Puletua
Soliola
Dixon
Flannery

Moore
Clough
Ashurst
Armstrong

1. Foster
2. Gardner
3. Shenton
4. Flannery
5. Meli
6. Lomax
7. Eastmond
8. McCarthy-Scarsbrook
9. Roby (c)
10. Clough
11. Soliola
12. Dixon
13. Wilkin

TP
Ashurst
Moore
Magennis

Think TP will need to start from the bench as we need some sort of impact on there or we'll be very weak when we spell.

I agree with this, with Moore being our utility back. Royce said he wanted one on the bench to cover for injuries. He's pretty much run out of options already! Poor bloke. As if losing your dad isn't enough he already has an injury crisis to deal with!

Gary Wheeler

And so it begins again injury after injury after bloody injury.

If that's not bad enough we will have Matty Smith kicking us to death.
Scully has been invited to the match for a presentation so we had better tell him to bring his boots. He can play in the halfbacks. Mind you I would rather the players getting fit for the Wire game as we will need them more so then.

Let's hope that Simmons has anticipated this and trains us to counteract it.

no, seriously now stop being sensible its freaking me out!

If Smith's kicking game is anything like it was against Hudds and Wigan last year and Crusaders last week we'll have little to worry about.

Salford have Godwin out due two a two match ban from the MM. I think they are struggling with their props. If our forwards can get on top then I think we will see a better game from us than the last time we visited the Willows. Saying that I think Smith will want a big game for them.

Why don't the RFL just ban the whole of the Salford team and get it over with!

I think they are missing three for this Friday now aren't they? Or has one served his ban now?


Yes. He ups his game against Saints!

1.Foster
2. Gardner
3. Shenton
4. Soliola
5. Meli
6. Lomax
7. Moore or Eastmond
8. LMS
9. Roby
10. Clough
11. Dixon
12. Wilkin
13.Flannery

14. TP
15. Ashurst
16. Moore or Magenis
17. Lucas

Would have been an opportunity for gaskell to get some game time but seeing as he is injured as well I would go with

Foster
Gardner
Shenton
Soliola
Meli
Lomax
Eastmond
LMS
Moore
Puletua
Wilkin
Flannery
Roby

Clough
Dixon
Ashurst
Magennis

If lomax is going to 6, I'd try Ashurst in the centre. He ran in that channel a number of times last year and always looked pretty dangerous - moreso than Flanders anyhow.
Past that, I'd think of getting Armstrong in.

I'll be interested to see how Foster goes on if he gets a run at fullback. He's got the safe hands, height and awareness to be a safe option at 1, but it may give him more of a chance to show some skills.

Armstrong is on loan at Leigh so he isnt an option at present.

Tommy Makinson could be given a shot at the big time. He is a very highly rated young centre.
So may be worth while giving him some gametime against one of the leagues lesser lights.

He is, as he is on dual contract. It's Frodsham who is on a season long loan to Widnes.

It would be a waste of Soliola's talent to put him back into the centres, he was awesome through the middle on Saturday. If Flannery's fit I would put him back in there, Lomax to fullback.

1. Foster
2. Gardner
3. Shenton
4. Armstrong
5. Meli
6. Lomax
7. Eastmond
8. ELEMES
9. Roby
10. Puletua
11. Soliola
12. Flannery
13. Wilkin
14. Moore
15. Clough
16. Dixon
17. Forster

Not sure if Simmons will stick with his on back on the bench policy. If he does I imagine that he will play Soliola or Flannery at centre and have Armstrong on the bench. Given we have 2 of our 3 specialist props out now is a good time to give Carl Forster his debut.

(This is assuming that Gaskell is still injured)

Maybe Flannery to centre but Foster should get a repeat set at fullback. He has shown signs of fullback potential so if Wello is still absent then Foster should provide that cover. Lomax would be our stand off. As to the prop position, if Magennis is fit then he should play. One of our newbies could be on the bench as cover for the backs.

I'd go with:

1. Foster
2. Gardner
3. Shenton
4. Flannery
5. Meli
6. Lomax
7. Eastmond
8. LMS
9. Roby
10. Clough
11. Soliola
12. Dixon
13. Wilkin

14. Moore
15. Puletua
16. Ashurst
17. Forster

I agree with NC, why not give Forster a debut against what should be a lighter pack with their injuries and suspensions. He'll not get a better opportunity than this.

Reasonable chance of an upset at Salford now. Although they'll have to improve immensely from that dismal performance against the Crusaders. Looks as though the three favorites Wigan, Saints and Wire are all going through a little mini injury crisis. Be interesting to see who comes out the other side of it in the best shape points wise.

But magennis looked brilliant every time he played last year so surely he needs the game time even more to help his development.

By rights we should as we are used to it!

That's true, either of them then.