They were gash against us and will likely be without taylor. A much easier game than travelling to saints like we have to

I expect us to get Muller crunch cornered after last weekend. I would have thought so if we were at home or traveling local, but going to France is always a tough one. I know Catalan are looking poor lately but they may see our weakened side as a last opportunity for a big score at home. The only plus I can see is that TS must surely have to play Penny now.

I think we'll give them a good pasting personally.

Except, apart from maybe 4 players, I doubt the cup squad will actually travel to Saints. Easy 2 points for them.

Catalan can barely put a squad together at the moment. Send your B team and it might be a game. Send your cup squad, and playing at even 50% they'll win easily.

Pedal to the metal, go for the win. If Hull slip at saints top spot is there for the taking

Top is meaningless under the current format and if anything can be a bit of a distraction leading into the playoffs. (It wouldn't happen but) with top four already secured I'd rest all 17 who played at the weekend and send the fringe/U21 players to France then go into the last five games full tilt with a slightly rested/refreshed squad.

Looks like that is what we are going to do. Losing at Saints is not going to be a disaster but a fully rested squad to go full pelt at Wigan at Home, Wakefield away and then you guys at Home - win those 3 we are top and get the shield and the home play off, regardless of Fridays result

Depends on who you'd rather play in the semis? As it's stands finish 2nd/3rd and it's Saints at home or Hull away. Can't see saints sneaking into 3rd so I'd fancy us against Pie or Hull at home, Saints....not so much!

Hull should have a golden opportunity to canter past Saints this week with Walsh still suspended.

I think the thing about top is, its much more likely to result in our play off game being saints at home, and we don't want that whatsoever. I'm happy to sit in second or third.

Same here .. use the reserve players and rest as many as we can. Who/where we play in the Semis is largely much of muchness.

The backs came through the final fairly unscathed aside from Kurt Gidley. I think the rotation has to be through the front row. Whether we bring in a few U23s i dont know. The back row are young enough to cope with last Saturday and a trip to France, aside from Joe Westerman who could probably do with more time to heal from the knock against Castleford. This is a game we could easily win and easily lose in the same breath.

I know we have the hoodoo still hanging over us at home to St Helens, but i would rather play them at home and let Hull and Wigan scrap it out for the other final slot.

Its going to be a team of kids mixed in with a few seniors and squad players. We might nick it, but I expect Saints will be able to easily overrun us.

^ Pretty sure that is exactly what you'll do. Its going to be a pretty disappointing weekend for Sky Sports. I suspect they'll get 3 blow away scores over their 3 SL fixtures. The entertaining game of the weekend looks to be Hull KR vs Leigh tbh.

I wouldn't write us off actually. There will be a handful of guys who played at Wembley, then there are guys like Hadley, Naughton, Abdull, Thompson, Pryce who can consider themselves unlucky to have missed Wembley, and those guys will be supported by a very talented bunch of youngsters. It's still a handy squad. Maybe even Feka will come out of semi retirement.

Eff em and the rfl, they haven't done us any favours during the 8's with scheduling the saints game just after the semi final and then giving us dragons away just after wembley. I hope its a terrible terrible weekend with lots for them to complain about, moreso.

Another tough game in hot sun. With a potential of more injuries. Could be a banana skin that effs up the run in to OT. Hope I'm wrong!

Top four is secure and the more I think about it, the more I would prefer to use these last three games as a mini pre-season. From here on I'd be happier with a third or fourth place finish and an away trip to Hull or wigan with a rested, refreshed and as fit as possible squad than to push for top and face wigan or Saints at home with a bust up knackered squad.

Absolutely everything should now be geared up towards hitting the playoff semifinal in the best possible shape, league position from this point on is totally irrelevant.

I have to agree with this, now the treble as gone lets just get ready for the semi.

Your obviously not going then!

Without wishing to court too much controversy, do you think that Tony Smith's team selection should be based on whether you, or anyone else is "going" rather than what is good for the team to try and ensure that we manage this phase of the season to be in the best shape possible?

I'd presume anyone going knew that it was the week after the Cup Final and the possibilities that this throws up?

No, I may have done had I not had the expense of a cup final the week before, but I would think and say the same even if I was going.

Squad suggests we're resting a fair few this week.

Daryl Clark isn't playing and is listed as having a "Calf Tear". That sounds serious to me.

Pretty tough question, even if you only look at it from a 'keeping the punters happy' perspective: going to France to see us play is pretty expensive (and dedicated?) compared to a regular season game, so the club owes it to those people to not serve up garbage. With that said, there is a (very punter pleasing) GF to consider.

Of course, there are plenty of other factors, especially after last week, and I think player welfare should always be no. 1 even if that means missing 3 big injuries along with 3 more "maybes". Just glad I'm not calling the shots.