I know it's early in the week for this, but it's the biggest game of the season for me. Must win. Lose this and we won't make the top 2. London are flying at the moment having only narrowly lost to both us and Leigh all year. Hope the last 2 wins give the players a bit of confidence. But we need to perform much much better as this is a good London side.
We seem to struggle going down there, add to the fact they play on the iptich, it's going to be tough. Although i think we have a fast team so a fast track should suit us. Just got to have the confidence to throw the ball out wide more! I'm expecting Gaskell back and hopefully Sidlow.

Think Diskin has a selection headache. I'd like to see Clare at FB and Thomas at 7. Think Clare is the better all round FB and Thomas is much quicker and accurate at passing than Addy and i think seeing him at HB will see us get the ball out much quicker which is where i think we can exploit London with our pace.

Not confident of victory but will be there cheering them on!

Agreed this is the game of the year for us. Top two pretty much depends on it.

We can score when the mood takes us, but only really against already beaten sides. London's position is built on the back of their defence. Whether we can crack a tough nut under current circumstances remains to be seen.

In two minds about going but the more I think of it the more I don't see how I can avoid it.

We beat London quite easily at Odsal without needing a vintage performance. They seem to have improved since then and we’ve since got worse, hit rock bottom and then seem to be improving again. It could be close but with most back fit there we should be strong favourites on paper at least.

We could really do with Sidlow and Gaskell back for it. If they’re both out it’ll be tough.

I’m not a big Danny Addy fan but I’d definitely keep him at scrum half with Gaskell (hopefully) for this one. I’d give Thomas a vote of confidence and play him at fullback. I’d move Purtell back into the centres with Welham and move Clare back to the wing. Williams drops out this week. For me Addy played well yesterday and is more of a leader than Thomas. London know all about him so putting him in at scrum half might be a bit much for a confidence player. He did well at fullback so he stays there for now IMO.

In the pack I’d drop Fleming for Sidlow – possibly harsh or I may keep him in and drop Mellor. I’d then use Sidlow and Clough as starting front rowers with a bench of Crossley, Clark, Fleming and Ferguson so we can stay on the front foot up the middle. Clark could do longer minutes if necessary in the backrow.

We could and should win this.

Not harsh at all. Fleming was our worst player yesterday imo, and the fact he was subbed after 12 1/2 minutes was significant. His form over the last few weeks was like a man needing a contract for next year, and his form yesterday was that of a man who has signed his contract for next year. (cynical, moi?)

Anyway, dependent on fitness, Fleming & Crossley out, Sidlow & Kavanagh in. Otherwise, as above. That pack should be able to lay a platform.

Utterly baffled why folk think a game, played at pretty much the halfway point in the season, is going to decide where we finish??

It'll be a difficult game, to be fair; London seem to have found some form and are a fully pro side on their own midden - it's definitely not a gimme. We seem to be getting some bodies back in contention, which is a good sign, from our pov, though our current sketchy form [over a few weeks isn't the most promising.

I guess much will depend on the day, though one thing is for sure for me, whatever the result, one game, at this point, won't define our season - not in any way, shape or form. Looking forward to the trip down and another new ground to play on!

If London win this weekend the gap between us and them is 6 points, and with Leigh it's 7 with the Blackpool game on the horizon.

It's not definitively third, but it's still impotartant to win if we're going to rely on ourselves rather than others.

edit: I can't add up.

If we lose then we will be 6 points behind London and 7 behind Leigh (if they beat Batley at home)

For us to get second we would need London to lose at least 3 of their remaining 11 games. That would depend on us winning all our remaining matches. Bare in mind we have to play Leigh twice, one of them at LSV. London have an easier extra game against Sheffield at the summerbash.

So yes I think it will define where we finish in the table as we will have too much ground to make up.

Purtell 7. Gaskell 6. Clare 1. Addy 13.

Clearly there's little point in bothering for the rest of the season - We're doomed!

Good point, well made.

I read that Addey and Clark are H KR bound and also Fleming is being tempted by Toronto. So maybe it is affecting his performance if true.

Huge game boys n gals, a win and you could be top end of May, a defeat and you could be virtually out of the race for T2

If Gaskell, Sidlow and Kavanagh are all back then we might get a result. If all three are still missing then we'll be looking at another defeat.

Well, you've got James Child - so anything can happen, judging on his 'erratic' performance at Featherstone on Sunday!

AFAIK both Sidlow and Gaskell are due back. Think Kavanaghs not quite ready. Given when we beat them at easter we were also missing Purtell and Welham and were still persisting with Mathers at FB, Think we're actually quite a bit stronger this time round assuming no fresh injuries from last week.

Purtell out with a leg injury. Gaskell still not back. Johnny Campbell left out. Still no Kavanagh.

Squad: Danny Addy, Dan Fleming, Paul Clough, Kurt Haggerty, Steve Crossley, Tom Olbison, Dale Ferguson, Joe Lumb, Jay Pitts, Oscar Thomas, Kris Welham, Adam Sidlow, Adam O’Brien, Danny Williams, Ethan Ryan, James Clare, Mitch Clark, Omari Caro, Alex Mellor.

Ryan at centre, Clare to fullback, Thomas into the halves with Addy?

Thought Thomas looked lively when he kept turning up at acting half last weekend, certainly better than his defensive work at FB, and worth a shot in the circumstances. Thought he did well under the high ball too after his initial mistake, he seemed confident and looked safe, though it's fair to say he wasn't really pressured.

Maybe starting again with Joe Lumb at hooker and then Adam O'B to come on and do what he does best? Good to see Ethan Ryan too, looked after properly this kid is going to be a seriously good rugby player.

I'd go:

Clare
Caro
Welham
Ryan
Williams
Thomas
Addy
Sidlow
AoB
Clough
Olbison
Haggerty
Pitts

Lumb
Clark
Ferguson
Crossley

Mellor and Fleming to miss out. Crossley keeps his place just for that awesome show and go from last week

Think strongest lineup TBH. probably have clark doing a longer stint from bench than usual depending on what sidlows fitness is like. Maybe start lumb and bring OB off bench but dont think it matters too much if we do opposite.

Interesting to note that on the Match Preview video for this weekends game on Bulls TV Kurt Haggerty has suggested that he has been training all week to play in the halves.

I believe he played there a little for Barrow.

It's an interesting tactical switch up if true.

Could just be mindgames

Is he fighting for the position?

I wouldn't have had him down to play in the halves but we are down to the bare bones in that department so I suppose everybody is in with a shout. He's shown some good attacking play especially against Leigh earlier this season where he tore Leigh's left edge defence apart during the final 20 mins.

We'll see what Diskin and Walker decide to go with tomorrow.

Haggerty at stand off and Thomas at centre...