Not one to count chickens with the wire but I'm hoping to see some sensible squad rotation this Easter now that we can afford to.

Hopefully hull and KR will knock seven bells out of each other and soften Hull up for Monday too.

I would like to see the following or a variant of:

v Salford
Mathers
Riley
Bridge
Anderson v
Atkins
Grix
Myler
Wood
Higham
Harrison
Anderson
Solomona
McCarthy

Carvell
Briers
Mitchell
Westwood

then vs Hull

Mathers
Riley
Atkins
King
Hicks
Briers
Myler
Morley
Monaghan
Carvell
Anderson
Westwood
Bridge

Grix
Wood
Solomona
Higham

i know people will disagree but I just think the Salford game is an ideal chance to rest the 30+ boys and have them ready for Hull.

i agree, although playing our strongest team vs salford is a great chance to pick up some good points difference that could be crucial come september

no Penny?

I think that the strongest squad available is needed for both of the games, Salford is a game that we could easily lose if we take them to lightly and get complacent.

Whats the point of having depth in your squad if your afraid to use them...rotate , surely this will ensure we dont end up the back end of the season with major injury issues.

Read Paul Wood's blog on the Guardian site regarding recovery times for starters, this before any major injury.

Our squad is strong enough to rotate, in my opinion.

Whatever Smith goes with is fine by me.

ISWT.

There couldn't be a greater motivation for the opposition if a second string team is put out to play them. No morale boosting talk from their coach would be necessary. All that would be needed is to point out that we hold them in such contempt that they aren't worthy of our strongest team. It's a stupid idea, and stupid isn't what Tony Smith is.

For me we need to put our stongest team out against Salford, and get the two points in the bag , then its a case of fittest play on monday and we will still have a pretty strong team out no matter who comes in.. Hull are gonna have a far more physical game than us on friday, and i dont think their squad depth is anywhere near as good as ours, so come monday they could be in a worse state fatigue wise than we are ..

saints beat the goons,
we put a big score on salford,
hull n hull kr knock seven bells out of each other,
and we go into our game against hull top of the league.

v Salford

1 Mathers
2 Hicks
3 King
4 Atkins
5 Riley
6 Grix
7 Myler
8 Moz
9 Monnos
10 Wood
11 L Anderson
12 Westwood
13 Harrison

14 Bridge
15 Carvell
16 Solomona
17 Higham


V Hull (Baring No injuries)

1 Mathers
2 Hicks
3 King
4 Atkins
5 Riley
6 Grix
7 Myler
8 Moz
9 Monnos
10 Wood
11 L Anderson
12 Westwood
13 Harrison

14 Bridge
15 Carvell
16 Solomona
17 Higham

Thinked I'd be a bit ed at being called sencond string personally, how the hell are the younger lads supposed to get experience ....they are part of the 1st team squad... not reserve players (no disrespet intended to those players). Still think if you have a squad of 25 then these are the times it should be utilised whether that would on Friday or Monday.

There has to be some rotation, unless Hull also agree to put exactly the same team out as well!!

I'd say using 22 players in the two games would be enough. Introduce a couple of younger players against Salford, maybe giving Carvell/Wood a rest. V Anderson to start perhaps.

Then see what the squad is like after that.

Should be aiming to put the first team against Hull. If that means, having to rest a couple of players, then fair enough. It is always a risk trying to manage the squad to win 2 games over the Easter period. We'd have no chance 2 seasons back, but I expect 2 wins now.

Whats the point of having a squad and not using it?

We have brought back Mitch, Blythe and Tyke for Easter so would expect them to see some action.

I would also like to see Penny and Vinne given game time against Salford.

Smith has said that he has called back the three players on dual registration with Leigh to prevent them playing for Leigh on Friday. He then said this means that they can play for us on Monday if needed, otherwise he will allow them to return to Leigh. This suggests a full srrength side in both games barring injuries - but certainly one on Friday. The young lads will be used as backup on Monday if required.

i think Tony has pulled them 3 back from leigh because they play in france on friday and dont return until sunday. This would be no good for us if we were to need them on monday.

Very good point!

so your saying we rest briers for both games and put our best centre on the bench?

King?

King's starting.

Ian Millward (in his previews on Sportinglife.com) says a bug has swept the camp this week - hopefully nothing too serious. I know this affected Briers but hopefully nobody else.

Full team for friday ,, give briers half a game so hes ready for monday

Hope we do get the dual lads back on Monday they have been absolutely brilliant for us.

Barring injuries you play your strongest side, sod rotation. If we have a good win against Salford I would play the same team at the KC. Worst thing we could do is bring in 4/5 blokes who haven't played in the side for weeks.

Why would you throw Penny into the deep end at Hull? surely out of the two he would play against Salford but he's not in the squad... strange one after reading Smithy's comments in the Guardian.