Warrington Wolves 21-man squad: Matty Ashton, Joe Bullock, Josh Charnley, Daryl Clark, Jason Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Matt Davis, Riley Dean, Jack Hughes, Toby King, Ellis Longstaff, Billy Magoulias, Peter Mata’utia, Robbie Mulhern, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Ellis Robson, Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker, Gareth Widdop.

Thewlis
Charnley
Mata’utia
King
Ashton
Widdop
Dean
Cooper
Walker
Mulhern
Currie
Longstaff
Magoulias

Clark
Clark
Bullock
Robson

I'm surprised to see Ratchford named, I thought that he was a couple more weeks off.

Is wrench injured?

Not mentioned in Warrington Guardian squad report, so I assume that he has been dropped?

Same article states that Williams and Holmes have minor injuries, hence they are unavailable.

Williams out is a blow. Top notch for effort.

If Ratchford is really match-ready, and not just in the squad to make up the numbers, it will be interesting to see whether Powell picks him or Dean in the halves. I'd go with Dean - seems an ideal game to see how he goes.

And that would really annoy me, why have Dean in the squad in that case. Regarding Ratchford I would leave him out till Tuesday and even then I would not guarantee him a spot if the guys play well in his place.

I think most of us would always want a youngster to come in rather than shoehorn a player from elsewhere. Dean needs games.

With such a short turnaround before the Easter Monday game, I expect that Powell will play Williams, Holmes, Wrench and other players excluded from the Salford game at Hull and rest some of the players from Thursday`s game.

I don't believe that Powell will 'rest' anybody (which is different to not taking a chance on a player that isn't fully fit). Right now we need a win to restore confidence and to halt the decline in attendance figures. I'm sure that Powell will go with his strongest available team for Thursday then see who's fit for Monday. Hopefully Williams and Holmes will have recovered by then as we'll need all hands.

The fact that Ratchford is named suggests that either he has a real chance of playing or that Wrench is also injured.

Not sure whether Wrench is injured or not, maybe taken out of the firing line? Seems to have had a difficult few weeks, albeit playing out of position on the wing.

Not easy out on the wing ... in fact horrible if not a winger / very exposed. Last match we had one recognised winger available ... Charnley.

Bulging disc in his back and out for another week or two, according to Powell in the WG. Also confirms that Ratchford and Ashton will both definitely play.

What is up with Williams , how long is he out for ?

Abdominal tear. Could be fit for the Hull FC game, but might have to sit that one out too.

Powell as confirmed Ratchford is playing.

The Wrench injury is a worry. Might have been brought back a bit quick to fill in for our shortage on the wing.

Does this look good? Are we going to win? Booked a hotel so getting to town mid afternoon for some early bank
Holiday beers. I’d quite like to enjoy a win.

Thought Ratchford was meant to be out a couple more weeks

50/50 this mate. I recommend the kings head before and after then the feathers if you’re staying up “late”.

We [ishould[/i beat Salford, the bookies think we'll easily beat Salford.

But we've lost five in a row and Salford has been our bogey team in the last five years.

In the last 11 meetings, they've won 7, including 3 of the last 5 at Warrington. There was a game they forfeited in the middle of that but I've not counted it.

In short, we should win, so we'll probably lose.

Wire have a chance of avoiding relegation with a win against a busted Salford team and a bust Hull team. Papering the cracks!

I can’t see another win chance for 3 months following.
The club look to be throwing our eggs into these next 2 games to stem fan opinions and pressure.

As for the future, we have a quota spot, around £100k cap, with options to loan out players if we need. However, a prop signing now won’t save our season, It’s done, A big unit prop might help sneak a couple more of the tighter fixtures into a narrow win, but largely it will highlight how sheer stubborn ruddy mindlessness of employed board level personnel have acted since last season.

Rubber can you just clarify something. Are you saying we ought to have signed a big prop? Do you think our current problems are linked to the lack of a big prop?

I don't know Duckie, we look like a new fullback should be our priority.

Will Ratchford start or be on the bench. If he starts, then I expect Dean to miss out and Ratchford in the halves. We need a win, but I have seen nothing in recent games to inspire any confidence that we'll get one.