Wire squad: Matty Ashton, Joe Bullock, Daryl Clark, Ben Currie, Josh Drinkwater, Matt Dufty, Lucas Green, James Harrison, Sam Kasiano, Peter Mata'utia, Josh McGuire, Greg Minikin, Matty Nicholson, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Russell, Josh Thewlis, Paul Vaughan, Danny Walker, Tom Whitehead, George Williams

Dufty
Russell
Mata’utia
Ratchford
Ashton
Williams
Drinkwater
Harrison
Walker
Vaughan
Currie
Nicholson
McGuire

Clark (if fit)
Bullock
Kasiano
Philbin

This is more like it. The 17 virtually picks itself with a debate about who is most useful Russell or Thewlis. I think it will be Russell.

Russell as done nothing wrong to be replaced by Thewlis unfortunately, and I guess Minikin comes on to the bench only if Clark is not fit otherwise that is probably our best team of the year so far. Ofc Mikaele would have been included was he still here.

Better still Griffiths is the ref, last time I saw him ref a game he was keen on the ruck speeds and penalising for laying on.

I see no reason to risk Clark unless he is as close to 100% as a player can be at this point in the year.

I’d like to see Green on the bench again, though after two losses and having players missing coming back, maybe it’s good just to get the strongest possible side out there again to rebuild some momentum.

Whilst not wishing to disrespect Wakey, I don't think we'll get an easier SL match than this, so Id like to see the younsters get a run out - probably from the bench - along with Bullock and Philbin.
As there's only Green and Whitehead in the squad, it'll have to be them.

No idea if Clark is 100%, but no reason to risk him.
And Russell on the wing because of his scooting from dummy half and strength of carries, although Im perfectly happy if Josh is chosen.

How times change - we lost to Wakefield (iirc) 3 times last year? Now I’m thinking of it as an opportunity to get our points difference better than Wigan’s (they’ve played Wakefield twice, remember) and getting back to the top of the table come Friday night with a much healthier +/-

Just when I was beginning to look forward to Friday!

After two defeats you play your strongest team. No way would I play the youngsters this week.

Yup and with all the headlines of Luke Gale signing, i wouldn't want this to end up a banana skin.

WG says Clark is fit, so my initial selection with Clark on the bench is what I will stick with.

Hell any talk of playing some youngsters or improving our points difference are flaming dangerous. Stop it now. Give Wakey respect.

100% this, with pretty much most the squad available which we have not been even close to since the start we have to go out with strongest line up and put a marker down of the team we want all the clubs to take note of………. Hope that don’t come back and bite me in the arris

If putting 2 youngsters on the bench is considered a gamble then I don't think much of the 'strength in depth' of the squad!

Our game mentality shouldn't be dictated by the fact that we'd have 2 youngsters in the 17.

The team must not take Wakey lightly, but if we can't introduce players at this stage, then when do we?

Obviously I appear to be in a minority here but I'm fully comfortable with that.

You are not wrong, the idea of a squad is to rotate. But we have just come off an international break so in this instance play the strongest team which if you go by the numbers would be your 1-17 which we have not had that luxury so far. Also I think some are looking at the state Wakefield are in and it’s going to be just a turn up and win, well remember they actually beat Wigan in the 2nd half in their last game.

Yes those are fair points.

We've got 2 difficult fixtures after that so I'd be tempted to wait until then to play 1-17, but maybe the break means Powell wants to get his best team up to speed and playing together before those.
Let's see.

Luke Thomas a now gone out on loan to Swinton.

I think there has been more than enough rotation in the pack so far. Would be good to see how the “strongest” pack goes.

Under normal circumstances I would like to have seen Lucas Green on the bench. Investment in experience will pay dividends in the future and we need to keep all potential first team players developing and improving. But both Bullock and to a lesser extent Harrison, are not up to match speed / fitness and I think that must be the first priority before making any changes.

I am not so fixated on winning every match. If we lose a game here and there so be it. The only issue for me would be a loss in morale/ self belief that could come from a loss. Meanwhile we are just working through the preliminary stages in order to get into the playoffs.

i've not been a big fan of mcguire so far, but i'll happily give him a few weeks at 13, playing with 4 proper props, and see if he plays any different.

Can see your point but none of our top boys are in need of a rest and some have hardly played recently. To be really honest we have shown already that we really haven't got much strength in depth at all and it stands out a mile. Our young forward have simply not looked anywhere near ready for Super League.

Could do with this rain stopping, don’t want to be watching a knock-on-athon like last night

What’s the weather like up there now? Down in south Cheshire it’s glorious.

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