A very important game for our top 4 bid, the top 4 play each other over the next few weeks so to stay in contention we need to win the game against KR currently in 9th (who potentially could be in 8th if they beat Salford on Tues and FC somehow lose to wakey)
KR have been in a tough knock out game, follow that by a game against a team who could be rivalling them for 8th 5 days later, then have to play us within another 5 days and Potentially they will have an eye on the Derby game 5 days after they play us. Their tough schedule could work in our favour- but I hope we won't be complacent!
We have a mixed record against this side.
Brett will have to sit out this game. Hopefully all should be back fit except Bailey.

So who plays?
Stick with the team who won at Widnes?
How do we account for ferred missing?
I'd say Murphy (if ready) or Connor back into centre with wardle at second row and ta'ai/Lawrence at LF.

Fully expect a win.

makes a change them having a short turnaround when playing us, we had the same few seasons back.

wonder if sick note Lunt will play , his career really taken off since joining them in 9th

mind you he might get to wembley yet!

We have Salford away 7 days after we play you. Then we have FC at home 5 days after that game. Wont be a consideration.

However we have rested a few for Salford on Tuesday and will rotate against you also. If we turn Salford over, then i fully expect key players to miss your game, play against Salford the week after (that is more winable to be fair). Think we need to win a minimum of 3 from 5 to have a chance of sneaking in (1 has to be beating FC and Salford at least once). Anything from Hudds and Saints is a bonus.

We have though already said the cup is priority so we'll gear towards it and if it means bottom 4 it means bottom 4.

Massive game for both sides to take points from

Rovers can score points for fun at times and have the kind of game that can open us up - I think they've been a bogey team for us in recent years

A win on Sunday and the manner of our game is going to be a good indication of where we sit going into the playoffs

A win and top 4 is safe another week
Lose and we are probably fighting for 5th

Hull kr beat salford lastnight

5 day turnaround now till sunday, thats a normal SL week!

Will be our 3rd game in 10 days, way too much. Ridiculous decision by the RFL to not play the midweek games at the start of the year.
We looked shattered last night, u guys keep the ball in play for long periods u will blow us away second half. Fully expect a beating.

The high of reaching a semi final then followed by the low of SL games is mentally a challenge, and physically its a big ask even with recovery time making up most of training.

Brearley lad, you're hatred and petulance is becoming slightly obsessive. You clearly are the bigger team and most successful, and Lunt obviously made a massive mistake in wanting to enjoy his rugby again. Let it go man!

I thought both sides looked Sloppy in defence at times, especially in the second half. Fast line speed in first half, high intensity in their faces, no early kicking- keep them having to defend asuch as possible that would be my tactic.

Oh and put wardle in charge of keeping Kelly quiet

9th! quite interesting now, if, and it's a big if we beat you, there will only be 2 points between us, we then have games away at Salford and home against FC, and you are away to Saints and away to Catalans in the middle of summer, then having to play a rejuvenated Wakey, I know which two games I would prefer.
It could be a very different table in two weeks, with Lunt looking down on you in the league and looking forward to a semi final, then again it may not pan out like that, but way to early to be having laughing emoticons.

Or we could be pushing Leeds for top spot

Chances are we'll be in 4th

He's right though. It's so tight at the top. We have a chance of not getting into the 8.
Hull KR are a great team and are in a great position if you think about the injuries they'd had. We get injuries in the same positions and they don't and the table looks different.
But it is what it is. I expect a huge fight fight from KR but aslong as we are smart we shouldn't lose.
There energy won't be better than ours.
We need a win because the next too games we'll be massive underdogs.

Will Rovers' match practise on Tuesday pay off or will it benefit us having the week off last week?
Could work for or against either team, saying that though I think if we keep Kelly on a leash we're halfway to winning the game,
Should be a close entertaining game

We don't play well with rest. Hull KR are fighters this season. Very very nervous.

We've run out of steam in the 2 nd half of both of our last two games, but hung on. Just can't see us doing that against your lot though.

No Connor or Kruise, I'm disappointed particularly about the latter, to me Kruise has been our strongest alround Hooker.

Looks like Murphy to centre for Connor sticking with Jodie on the wing.

will PA look to mix it up a bit with such competition for places now?
will grix return in place of simpson who's been a revelation in his 3 games? w
will murphy come in for broughton, who i think has done enough to keep his place.
already he has packed connor and leeming off to some far distant lands after some good games

it's great that we have the competition for places now, every player should be on top of his game no and if he isn't then his place is up for grabs.

Could it just be that he wants to give kruise a good rest before the big run in. Some tough games coming up in saints and Catalan away, and every game after the split will be tough. Kruise is young and ihas been playing in the middle against the big guys. Rotate the squad and keep them fit healthy and hungry to play!

exactly jools,
he knows now that he can bring in leeming, connor, johnson, simpson etc and they will all do a job for him, let's hope the senior players now step up

Forecast for Sunday 3pm is thunderstorms and heavy rain. Will suit us. Make the going difficult on tired KR legs-KR like to throw the ball about but the conditions won't favour that.
A must win to stay in the top four as I expect Cas to beat Widnes at home. Also expecting a back lash next Friday following saints performance last night.

wood and robinson at hooker then, wood will be looking for a big performance

ellis and brough half backs hope to continue good form

simpson got to continue to play full back for me in such a rich vein of form, keep it going lad!

no complaints if murphy comes back, always a top performer

I would say Grix/Simpson and Mullally to miss out.

It'll be very hard to justify dropping Simpson or Broughton imo


Grix and Murph to miss

Think Murphy will play centre and Wardle second row with Mullally or possibly Fairbank missing out. Simpson/Grix is an either or with the other missing out on the 17.

It's good that both teams have almost a full squad to choose from. Luxury, eh?

Our coaches aren't making anything of our short turnaround. We have all our forwards rested or recently back from injury and some of our backs too. Only Mantellato, Welham, Salter, Blair, Kelly, Walker and Horne from our likely starting 17 have played in each of our last 4 winning games.

We have 4 good props and Burke will likely back up McCarthy at loose forward, so plenty of size and grunt in our pack. Ken Sio will likely play this time round and Kris Welham has been outstanding this year.

Although our away form hasn't been great this year, our momentum, confidence, desire and creativity are top notch at the mo and could be key.

The Giants are an excellent side. We are better than our league position. Should be an exciting and close game.

After a week off and all your players rested you can't get beat by HKR can you?