There hasn’t been a lot of talk about the run in or the race for the LLS, but it’s shaping up to be a good end to the regular season.

Each team has to play both Saints and Leeds in the last 6 fixtures, and Hull KR and Wigan play each other too. Both Wigan and HKR have to play Catalan, with Wigan having to travel there.

The Sky Sports helicopter could be needed again!

Hull KR - Catalan (magic), Saints (a), Salford (h), Wigan (a), Leigh (h), Leeds (h)

Wigan - Saints (magic), Hull FC (h), Catalan (a), Hull KR (h), Leeds (h), Salford (h)

Warrington - Leeds (magic), Cas (a), Leigh (a), Saints (h), Huddersfield (a), London (h)

If you judge opposition strength by their current league positions ... we have the easier fixtures. But some clubs are particularly hard to beat at home & Wigan and HKR have the advantage on this. Injuries & suspensions will swing it too. All good fun.

I'd take Wigan out of it, it's between Wire and Hull KR unless French returns very quickly and in very good form.

I think we could make 2nd place this year which is quite exciting. If only we could have won our home game against Salford ...

Our home record isn’t great this season so finishing outside the top 2 wouldn’t be a disaster

Top 3 i'll be happy with, no team we play is an easy win. As long as we find form and energy going in to the playoffs that's all we need.

I'd rather one home game, then potential final.

Second place would be great, but not the LLS. It seems to be unwanted distraction for some clubs, having the effect of convincing the players that they've actually won something. Then they seem to not be up for the actual playoffs.

Even finishing below second wouldn't be too bad. We have a great record away from home.

Wire top 2 on run in.

All comes down on the Pies v Robins game of who will take top.

I’m going Wigan/Wire.

I want the LLS and the GF.
We have a decent run-in. If - and it's a big if - Sam manages to keep them grounded and focussed it could happen.
Game at a time and all that.

Actually winning ONE playoff game will be something we have not done since 2018.

Round 25 will be an interesting weekend, Wire v St Helens and Wigan v Rovers IF the table stays the same or similar.

It’s great to be in the conversation, but I think arriving at the playoffs in the best fitness possible is the priority. London should be a dress rehearsal at full strength, but with Huddersfield and Cas on the horizon we should be looking to rotate. Outside of the first choice 17 we have Philbin, Crowther, Ratchford (maybe the last two rounds), Holroyd, Lindrop, Wood, Wray and Whitehead who have all contributed to the year so far. I would be looking to wrap up Williams, Dufty, Vaughan, Currie and Powell.

You say it's a decent run in and it probably is.....

Ideally, we get a marker down by beating a resurgent Leeds team that will be well backed at Elland Road as that for me sets the tone for this last tranche of fixtures which I think are in a subset of their own.

We can't approach any game as being easy but lose on Saturday and the next three will be trickier as the pressure builds and the opposition sense a bit of vulnerability. Leigh have caused us problems and Saints will be looking for a bit of retribution.

I think this weekend's game is a good opportunity to show we can perform on a big stage post-Wembley.

This isn't a "have you played" esq post because a) I don't know if you have and b) I never played super league standard but when I was playing I wanted to play. A week off was crap and disturbed my rhythm. I get a mid season break from being bashed about for 16 weeks but for now I'd go full strength to ensure squad cohesion. Of course injuries are a risk but with the play off a single digit week away, I'd be be going for system over cotton wool.

As an aside,. I'd have Holroyd over Bateman any day of the week, even if the latter was a mate and had played with my brother's at junior level and me at international.

It’s a fair point (and yes, but not SL), but should we finish 3rd or lower, the main rivals will have a week off in round 1 of the play offs anyway, so whoever you play in round 2 (if we win the first game) is coming off a week off. That is why I suggested playing full strength against London, to get that timing and rhythm back. Particularly if we end up playing Salford who challenge on both sides of the field with lots of ball movement.

The risk is that Saints and Wigan arrive at the play offs with a large part of their squad fresh having lots of injuries and suspensions, and we have Dufty who has played all but 35 minutes (and a bit of time in the bin) of the season.

On Bateman, if he can get near his best he plays. But last week he wasn’t near that level. But he can change games when he’s on. And he’s been there and knows what it takes, which might count in his favour for a naive squad.

I think Wigan are only really missing French and Smith, aren't they? Their losses haven't been down to lack of first team players, more a slump in form as they don't seem to fire in attack without French.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Saints though. Their poor form started when they had a full team with the likes of Welsby, Lomax, Percival, Clark et al, but as you say those guys will be fully rested after their injury layoffs. They could finish sixth and then peak for the last 3 games.

The thing about Saints is that who ver plays Wellens will still be the coach which is a silver lining for any opposition.

They have been with it O’Neil too, who is their first choice 9. And Leeming missed a big part of the middle of the season, some through selection. Cooper, although getting on, started at Wembley and has been missing a lot since with ongoing concussion issues. And Keighran missed a bit through suspension then injuries straight after his return. They’ll have fresh legs at 1, 6, 7 and 9. And have a habit of rotating the middles anyway, with Mago not down to play yesterday until Farrell pulled out. They’re still the team to beat, and we need to be at our near our best to beat them in big games.

I thought he looked a lot better yesterday....solid in defence and a great off-load for Dufty's last try.

HKR have a 38 point points difference on us now. Now as it stands if we win all our remaining games and HKR and Wigan win their games the game when HKR go to Wigan could be massive in terms of our top 2 ambitions . A Wigan win we need a big points swing an HKR win we go 2nd. All kind of exciting right now.

We both have Saints coming up….good chance for both sides to really boost their points difference.

You will win all your games.
Wigan and HKR are capable of winning theirs too.
The LLS will be decided in the Wigan v HKR game at Wigan.
Either side could win that.
French could well be back by then, Smith's last match on the ban is v Catalans the previous week to HKR.
Wire could possibly get 2nd with whoever loses the Wigan HKR game going to 3rd.

Second must be the aim now. Can't see the other two slipping up, and third would mean a home game against possibly Salford, which would be a sticky wicket. They're the sort of side to knock you out and then just collapse as they get deeper into the playoffs. Avoid at all costs.