Bit of a Banana skin this one for me. A game we should win, but it will be a big crowd which will inevitably raise their performance level. They will certainly have a fair bit of support from SL fans that have decided to watch the game. I think i'm right in saying they play on a 4g pitch. Also even though they aren't on the m62 corridor, we shouldn't mistake Newcastle for being a development side, they are very much a club challenging for the play-offs. Good performance needed.

Startled to learn that Newcastle has its own time zone, unlike the rest of the UK, which up to last night was still using GMT+1. According to the Bulls' website the kick off is 1945 (local time), though it doesn't say if this means CET or some other yet unspecified time zone.

For the game I very much agree with BM, yes we may start favourites, and the game is very winnable but it needs to be taken seriously, as it is no 'gimme' and only our best will do. I'd also suggest going up on Thursday night, as that should take care of any jetlag..

They're above Hunslet in the table so no mugs at all. I hope we shake off the complacency that's in our game and hand them their Geordie backsides on a plate.

Might be interesting to know how many geordies they have.

My "concern" is for the next time the game is tight after an hour which I doubt but is possible on Friday, Newcastle are a good side play on plastic and have reportedly sold plenty of tickets. This sport imo is riddled with examples of teams hammering sides then losing close games because they usually cruise through the last quarter.

Again just an untrained opinion but I think this was a factor in the Workington defeat, the last 15 minutes or so having a whiff of panic and also why the Aussie Test Team are so hard to beat, fewer blow-outs in the NRL and very rare in SOO.

Well my mate is there goal kicker and I can tell you he ain’t a Geordie!

Squad should be announced today. Hoping to see Keyes back in there and maybe even McNally? It's gone a bit quiet on his injury status recently, not sure if he's still crocked or if Kear just wants to keep Pickersgill in there while he's playing well.

Mcnally had a setback with his quad injury 4-6 weeks from the Doncaster game at end of April.

Hopefully after the London game they've had Kear's boot up their crevice and they'll be fired up for a very important game.

19 announced.

Bustin
Chisholm
Crossley
Flanagan
Garside
Gibson
Grant
Halafihi
Hallas
Kirk
Laithwaite
Milnes
Milton
Minchella
Peltier
Pickersgill
Ryan
Smith
Wood

Nice to see it looks like Milnes will keep his place.

What's happened to Liam Johnson? Is he injured?

He played for the reserves the other week

I like Johnson, but who would you drop to accommodate him?

I'm hoping we can run away with it.

Did Johnson do anything wrong? I only really saw him in pre-season but he looked dangerous when he ran the ball in.

Wasn’t great against Warrington dropped a lot of tackles Which led to breaks which was a shame

I'd go with Minchella at stand off for this one.

I would keep Milnes at stand off. Who knows how long Keyes is out for?.

Think we have more attacking threat whenever Minchella is on the pitch with that in mind I’d play him for full 80 but split between loose forward and standoff. Have hallas do 40 mins at loose and Milnes 40 at stand-off.

Think some people are taking Newcastle a bit too lightly. There right up there in mix for top of table and we need to treat them like we would York or Doncaster.

Mick Gledhill says on Twitter:

"Joe Keyes is looking at missing out the next three weeks. He has had the back scan and there is no structural damage, just musculoskeletal. He's been placed on a rehab programme to ensure that there's no further repeat of the injury."

I agree with Newcastle being a threat. With that in mind and that Milnes maybe somewhat targeted i'd like to see Minchella at stand off.

That's correct mate.

Injury update with John Kear should be on Bulls TV later.

Not injury concerns. He just can't get in the team at the moment.

John Kear Bulls TV (PRE NEWCASTLE THUNDER) https://youtu.be/nsepqK5enig

John Kear Bulls TV (PRE NEWCASTLE THUNDER) https://youtu.be/nsepqK5enig

I'd stick with him. Yes he had a few nervous moments last week, but he did fine. He won't be as nervous this week as he's already had his debut. Also he set up two tries for Ethan with some nice kicks. We have to bite the bullet and give the kids a chance. I don't like the idea of him coming off the bench. This is difficult even for the most experienced half backs.

I remember Ethan Ryans debut. Dropped a simple high kick, next tackle the opposition player ran straight through him. Would have been easy to not play him rest of season, but we stuck with him and he was one of our best players towards the end of the year. Keyes could be out for a month, lets give the young HB a go and stick with him. Let Elliot do what he's been doing, play as a ball-playing 13, or wide-running SR.