It's anyone's guess how this game will go given our abject performance vs Fev and Fax's below par performance at Batley.

I think, going on the Blackpool game, that Fax are slight favourites. That's assuming both sides recover from last week.

It'll be interesting to see what 17 Kear picks. From what I've read Batley beat Fax up front and that meant Murrell was unable to exert his usual influence. With us looking like we'll be without Green for 4-6 weeks we need to make sure Peltier is back in the side at the very least. I would also pick Bustin. He appears to be out of favour for some reason but we really could do with him.

I'm assuming Webster was out due to him being rested, I hope he's fit as playing Mini in the centres is a massive waste. Pickers had one good half last week but the less said about the second the better. Perhaps Ryan back to fullback and Grant on the wing (if fit) or Brown (unless he's cup tied).

With those doubtful being fit I'd go for this lineup.

Ryan
Grant
Webster
Oakes
DFJ
Milnes
Lilley
Kirk
Hallas
Crossley
Minchella
Farrell
Wood

Wildie
Peltier
Bustin
Storton

18th man Garside in case we lose a forward late. Please no more debutant fullbacks as 18th man!

I’d go:

Ryan
Grant
Oakes
Webster
Foggin-Johnston
Lilley
Milnes
Kirk
Wildie
Crossley
Farrell
Minchella
Hallas

Flanagan
Bustin
Peltier
Wood/Storton

Wood or Storton as 18th man or Hallas with Wood starting. Must win this game even if it’s just for the money now and in the semis. Need to get on top of their pack early.

Flanagan is an interesting one. I thought he overplayed his hand with the scoot from dummy half last week. Probably just desperate to have an impact. His distribution wasn't great either but it was just as bad from Hallas. The wind didn't help but it was the same for both sides.

Storton had a stormer at Halifax and was top tackler 40+ at blackpool so he starts for me.

Who do you leave out? Or do you play Mini at loose fwd?

I’d play:
Ryan
Brown
Webster - really missed his yardage/impact
Oakes
Grant - really missed his yardage on Sunday
Lilley
Milnes - needed for kicking and settled with Lilley
Kirk - although he wasn’t great Sunday
Hallas - workhorse (easy MOM I thought Sunday)
Crossley - gets targeted because he tires in defence
Minchella - his best position without doubt
Farrell - workhorse
Wood - workhorse

Wildie
Pelts
Roche
Storton
I’d leave DFJ out as they are so targeting him with their kicks! Too small!
I’d leave Flanagan out as he doesn’t seem to be a team player, just wants personal glory in my opinion

I think Flanagan will be all the better for having a game after his injury break. Despite last week, I'd go with our 'strongest' available squad, I also think the players generally will, or certainly ought to, feel they owe JK, the club, the fans and most of all themselves, a far better performance.

Games against Fax are never easy, but I think we will win. We know we can because we already have - even though saying that reminds me of all the caveats on financial papers about past performance and what may, or may not happen in the future...

Defo need to put out our strongest team and I think we will beat Halifax too! Not convinced Re Flanagan though- I think we’ve been better in the weeks since he stopped playing - the Wildie/ Hallas mix working well - two different styles!
We will see ! Dunno about putting Bustin in instead of Roche - I think he’s been going well for us ?

I’d pick Flanagan. Other than an attacking kick to a wing he does appear to have a break in him or at least be dangerous near to the line

I don't think it will happen but I'd take a punt and put Brown at FB (he reminds me of the Moss in his back up play) and put Ryan on wing again. All depends on injuries. Crossley has a question mark on him as he was at fault for Fax's match winning try at the bash and didn't appear to cover himself in glory from the Fev highlights (I've not seen full match so can only go by them)

As Bullseye says, two evenly matched teams who are capable of producing brilliant performances but both had bad results at the weekend. I think Grix will revert to the team that beat us at the bash after chopping and changing for Batley. God knows what line up we will have. Think we need to freshen things up as I think we're physically and mentally fatigued after a tough May.

They should post the various Twitter feeds all around the dressing room from Coral bookies etc., which are suggesting we're just the first stepping stone on Halifax's way to Wembley!

Ferocious, I love your remark, a stepping stone on fax way to Wembley. whatever happens on Sunday, the championship will have a team in the semi final.
Good luck to everyone

does anybody know how many loan players Fax have

2. Scott Grix and Jon Luke Kirby. No DR players.

Who is Brown?

Joe Brown. https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... star-brown

Joe Brown. https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... star-brown

I do apologise. I don't know why that slipped my mind.

And JLK is Cup Tied played for Hunslet against us in previous round

Bulls squad for the quarter final.

Crossley
Farrell
Flanagan
Foggin-Johnston
Grant
Hallas
Kirk
Lilley
Milnes
Minchella
Oakes
Peltier
Pickersgill
Roche
Ryan
Storton
Webster
Wildie
Wood

So much for JKs threat of "players finding themselves sat in the stands" this week.

15 of last weeks 17 are in this weeks squad. Only Green (injured) and young Stevenson missing

Bustin,Green,Hitchcox,Evans,Gibson,Keyes are all injured
Magrin is out on loan.
You have Garside,Milton,Hodgson,Doyle,Rickett,Stephenson so 4 academy/reserve players 2 1st team players one who has played 4 games the other zero. So practically no match fitness.

Who would you of put in?

Well, you can't get match fitness when the team never changes

Garside and Milton are obviously very much out of favour, and aren't going to get picked unless there is an injury crisis, so how are they ever going get any match fitness?

I didn't actually expect changes. Kear is very loyal to those who he likes, and he obviously likes the current first team. Now they need to deliver...

Halifax side looks dangerous. I'm more nervous about them than I was against Rhinos.

Joe Brown for a start

Its going to be a very close game bookies have bfd-2 I think we can beat them but its going to be hard but these are the games you want to see