My thoughts as well, Sam will be missed but Joel needs to up his game when he can play again as he hasn't been playing well so far. With players like Hoffman, Hansen and Farrell I think he may find it hard to get back into the starting 13 unless Maguire plans to switch him to centre quicker than anticipated with Gleeson's absence.

As I've wrote in my preview - Would you expect Huddersfield to compete away at Wigan without Scott Grix, Leroy Cudjoe, David Hodgson, Kevin Brown, Danny Brough, Eorl Crabtree and Luke O'Donnell? Or Warrington if they had Brett Hodgson, Matt King, Joel Monaghan, Lee Briers, Richie Myler, Adrian Morley and Ben Westwood all absent?

Thats basically what Wigan are up against with Sam Tomkins, Martin Gleeson, Pat Richards, Paul Deacon, Stuart Fielden, Joel Tomkins, Brett Finch and Eamon O'Carroll all out. On paper it should be a Hudds walk over but I'm not expecting it to be. Wouldn't surprise me if we won in truth but think Huddersfield would have to play poor and flat for us to do so.

Cant use injuries as an excuse. Leeds fans arent and we had 9 out friday. Last year when we played at the DW we had 6 out and competed for 65 minutes against you. Both teams have some good youngsters and I still reckon it'll be close.

You can't compare playing Salford to Huddersfield but I'm not using it as an excuse, I'm just saying that on paper Hudds should win easily. I'm saying if that was the situation the other way round I would be disappointed if Hudds managed to compete with us. It doesn't always go that way though as our Good Friday 2003 victory against Saints proved once upon a time.

Is Gleeson injured then?

Before the 2009 CC Final we sent our academy team + 4 forwards to Saints (on Sky) and only lost 10-12.

No one knows still whats up with him. He won't be playing though.

I also used us travelling to your place last year as a better example but I reckon all the top teams could compete with players missing. People underestimate how good the young kids are over here. You and Hudds have had 2 of the better U20s recently.

Indeed and I think, off memory, you really should have beat them that night but like I said, on paper, saints really should have pumped that Hudds team.

I hate games like this, I just cant handle it being favourites to beat the likes of Wigan! Seriously. In all honesty so long as we play like we mean it I dont mind for the result, it'll mean Sky will have seen a corker.

Really looking forward to Friday. We're up against it and it's going to be a huge challenge but even with plenty of first choice players missing we can still put out a pretty handy side.

I'm looking forward to watching a couple more of our academy products make their debuts with Joe Mellor, Ryan King and Dom Crosby all in the 19 man squad.

Win or lose it'll be a good tussle and it will also be a good experience for guys like those aswell as other youngsters like Tuson, Charnley and Marsh.

you know you've turned some heads when fans of the champions are predicting a rough ride for their mob, to be fair it doesn't matter who wigan will be missing,because like us they have a good coach and some good youngsters who dont look out of place in the big time,im sure if we had so many first teamers missing we'd still be fairly confident *
as for the crowd,i too hope its a big turnout bud sadly as durham has already pointed out,friday nights are awful for us, and being on sky isn't particularly helpful as hundreds/thousands of potential supporters are cosied up at home or in the drinking holes in town awaiting the chance to talk about the game with us that do go.
still i think anything over 8,000 will be a decent turnout.

EDIT:
* during the course of this season we have played games without
michael lawrence
david hodgson
lee gilmour
darrell griffin
dale ferguson
larne patrick
keith mason
jamie simpson

andy raleigh,luke robinson and danny kirmond have yet to appear this year.

What is this top 5 you speak of?
I would suggest you look at the current League table.....apart from losing to Castleford this year, I think their last regular season loss was in July 2010 and that was by 1 point. They are on top of SL after 5 games and I would suggest that with Wigan, Wire and Castleford are one of the current top 4 teams.
Saints & Leeds are not the teams they were.....not saying they wont be in the mix at the end, but they have issues and on current form, Hudds are the Number 1 team in the league at present with maybe only Wigan challenging them.

Think it'll be a close game with Hudds just edging it. Wouldn't be shocked if we took the points though.

Leeds and Saints were the top 2 for 3 years running, Wigan are the current champions and Warrington are cup holders. I would say they are the top 5 teams.

Hudds have appeared in a challenge cup final and made the top 4 last year. They are now starting to dominate games like a top team.

I can see your point about Cas and Quins but they are the form teams and have not been doing it up untill now.

Injuries are no excuse. We have excellent squad depth and the side we're putting out is more than capable of bringing home the two points. They'll be no moping about and feeling sorry for ourselves in the Wigan camp. We're the Super League Champions for a reason and have an impeccable record away from home. Huddersfield are a formidable side and will provide us with a stern challenge. The lads called up will be itching to impress and I personally can't wait to see them play. Joe Mellor and Ryan King especially. These boys will not let any team down. Castleford Tigers' success so far this season has largely been down to the emergence of some great talented young players. The kids will not let you down.

I'm looking forward to this game. I'm hoping we don't have any stupid incidents like in the last match. It would be pleasing if we could just have an RL game where the rugby was discussed and admired & not the controversial incidents from some players. I've never not backed a Mike Maguire coached Wigan side & it is no different this week. Close game, but I think Wigan will edge it. Looking forward to it!

I would suggest that there is a top 2 teams....both of whom are currently struggling by their own standards and neither of whom I believe will make the 4 this year.

Then there are Wigan who under Ian Lenegan have risen from their slumber.
Then there is Wire & Hudds.....either of whom I believe can win the title this year
Then there are leeds, Saints, Castleford and HKA who will be on the fringes this year but only one will make the 4 and I think Castleford will do it.
Then Quins, FC & Bradford. I think Quins will do it this year unless Potter works his Magic (no pun intended)
Then Wakey, Salford, Crusaders and the dirty French....battling for the spoon that is wooden.

What is good is that I believe that neither Saints and Leeds will make the GF......I would love to see Hudds v Wire myself...no problem with Wigan but a new name on the trophy would be great to see.

I will be expecting a huddersifeld win. They scored some great tries on sunday and if they can perform near that level on friday then im not sure if Wigan will be able to cope with it. Also i need some fantasy team points from McGillvary, Brough and Horne

I think Wigan will win this one, but we will get them back at their place. Just wonder if robbo might be a little rusty, hope not as he is an important player

If hudds play like they did against Quins and the ball sticks a bit more they will push Wigan-Hudds looked very good I thought

Think Huddersfield SHOULD win this game, on paper. It'll be interesting to see how they use Robinson and Lunt. I assume Faiumu will play back row and prop.

Giants unfortunately, either by three falls or a knockout

For all you doubters.................suck!!

Best squad in the league by far!

Still worth the 1.2 million



You should try a Thursday night

Refer to my signature.

HTH