My guess is no, last time Powell spoke about him he was still a while off and nothing said about him being back in training.

Ashton has probably paid the price for gobbing off in frustration at Powell's mate Dudson v Saints.

Not really - it's all part of the masterplan.
Remember we played Akouala on the wing against Salford under Price a couple of years ago.....

Yeh while French and Fields run rings around us on the edges.

Ashton - calf. One to two weeks
Thewlis - knee. Two to three weeks
Nicholson unlikely to feature this week
Williams, who has trained all week, and Wrench to be assessed tomorrow.

All from Powell briefing / Guardian.

Both Ashton & Thewlis injured.
By the looks of it.

Did he train well though?

Wrench and Minikin on the wings presumably....

I'd suppose a lot depends on whether Williams plays which will presumably rejig our centre choices potentially leaving three spaces to fill out wide. Either way I'd have Russell ahead of Minikin

Sorry, yes, completely forgot about Russell.

No worries Kev.

Mata'utia at SO Russell outside Ratchford and Wrench outside Minikin can't say I'd be overjoyed, but with a week off following Powell might be 'planning' on having virtually a full strength when we re group after the Challenge Cup.

Whether that means you can gamble with a niggle as in Williams' case or take full advantage of another two break we'll soon find out

Just never know with a hamstring ... until you really put yer foot down.
Another two weeks will be tempting.
Russell took the ball up very strongly last week.

With that squad I am wondering who is going to score.

Wigan

If we bring similar attitude from last week more importantly then we have a chance to win this

True. We also need to be the ones lucky enough to benefit from the inevitable bizarre decisions in this week's episode of The Chris Kendall Show.

As stated Nicholson unlikely, but now a rumour of Williams and Wrench not looking likely - if that's the case we're in trouble.

Kasiano on the wing then.

If true then that probably means Mata'utia at half, Minikin on the wing and, I guess, Currie into the centres?

Hopefully both French and Field will get struck by lightning before tomorrow evening.

They say you can tell a good ref by how little he gets noticed - well I never notice Kendall - apart from every second he's on the s*dding pitch. While I've got the soapbox out, can someone explain to me why the video ref warms up? Surely some finger cracking and a quick game of 'find new batteries for the remote' would be more appropriate? I have made my decision!

Aw, c'mon! We've already been on the wrong end of the Kendal refereeing lottery a couple times this season. Surely it's our turn to have forward passes ignored, "stripped" called whenever we knock on and any break by yourselves called back for some imaginary infringement in back play! I can almost hear the hooter for all those lovely '6 agains' as I write....

Rumours of Walker at 7.

For the first time since DP's been in charge the 17 won't be decided until this evening. But it's looking Williams & Wrench won't pass fitness tests.

The plan is to have either Walker or Whitehead at #6, Minikin on the wing with Matautia & Ratchford in the centres.

Originally I thought having Walker or Whitehead in the halves would be a disaster, but how much worse can they be than Matautia ? At least Walker has a kicking game !

Oh well, I take heart from the fact that we have won trophies with seemingly leftfield selections at No.6, so you never know. Less than ideal, but so it was last week and we still put in a good performance. Chin up, and all that.

It’s effectively two classic 7s in the halves then, with no running threat. Lots of kicking to touch is my guess.