What a game this could be! The perfect game before the playoffs.
Saints are going to come and play like they're in a final with a chance to guarentee the league leaders shield. The first piece of silverware for Nathan Brown on offer and his old student Paul Anderson can be the one to stop him!
This is going to be very exciting for the neutrals and nail biting for the home and traveling supporters.
Wonder if our CC exit will be on our minds as we go out to shatter our oppositions chance of the top spot. Revenge could be sweet.
I'd expect our strongest team out this time round after our slow start in last years playoff game against Wigan.
IF we have a full team to play with, who's going to miss out?

We need a good performance more than anything else. One to stop a fired up Saints side and Two to get us ready for the playoffs. If any players have knocks don't risk them. Rumours have it we have Mr. Bentham as video ref so should be an interesting game. COYG!

Very excited for this game!!!

think it'll be close as both teams have lots of reasons to step up and play.

I do hope we win as I really don't want to watch another team be presented with the LLS at OUR ground after we had it there last year #COYG

i doubt it will be presented to saints on friday if they win it.
like i said,performance is irrelevant winning is everything now, we need to just concentrate on winning games not playing well now.

Winning is vital for our best playoff opportunity and for a second chance should we need it. We don't win though.. It's Widnes at our place for the first game...
For me, I agree we DropGoalGiant, we need a good performance going into the Playoffs. Players who perform well and work on there own game as well as team combinations is needed before the playoffs. Winning on skill won't get us anywhere near the grand final.

All the makings of a cracking game, just what we need going into the playoffs.

we had a few players struggling yesterday so may not be risked... crabtree/lunt/robinson... grix and cudjoe to return?

the thing is if cudjoe returns who do you drop! murphy or broughton!?

should be a good crowd.. over 6k maybe 7k

And without Broughy apparently? Yeah should be a great game

without brough? not heard that one yet!

just seen the bookie prices and they have us as hot faves for the win, im too sure...we are damn good at home but saints have more to play for and at 11/8 that looks value.

Rumours on Twitter Broughy took a knock to a rather delicate area, just a case of sitting back and waiting to see if it gets better.....

he has had a problem holding the ball(s) so to speak!
would miller get another call up? or if grix is fit, grix at 6 and keep connor at full back?or maybe bailey to play in the halves?

Maybe it's also a bit of a case of wrapping him in cotton wool for the play-offs !!

If he doesn't play i think it will be Bailey and Robbo in the halves with Lunt and Fooey on hooking duty, possibly Leeming on the bench......I would like to see Connor keep his place, he's a talent we need him to keep playing and learning .

As a Cas fan just do us a favour and win.

yep brough wont be playing, took a knock in the balls!

so the 11/8 for a saints win looks even better now.

would think bailey and robinson go in the halves.

Is this definite ? or just another forums rumour

I think giants just want to finish fifth

Not definite, along with a couple of other players who took knocks, but doubtful.
Basically, if the game was played last night they wouldn't have been playing, but the game is Friday.

And if the game was played on Sunday as it was meant to be it they'd be more likely to play!

It's a fine line PA will be treading with his selection this week. He'll obviously not want to risk anyone but it will be fresh it the memory how resting players back-fired at this stage last season.

Think we will be missing a few key players for this march
Broughy
Big Eorl
Scott Grix
So Jake Connor for Grix
Kafussi for Eorl
Probably Robbo and Bailey in the half back roles or maybe a suprise and play Leroy, remember Nathan Brown doing that a couple of years ago ?
Are Saints now favourites ?

Playing a weakened team does us no good

Win and we finish 3rd or 4th
Lose and it's 5th

Lose and we give up our momentum such as it is, lose confidence for the playoffs and lose a psychological edge over one of our competitors

Playoffs actually start on Thursday night

No Brough, Grix or Crabtree in the squad.

Grix was missing last week and was injured.

Eorl definitely picked up an injury and as he was trying to run it off you copuld clearly see he was in pain.

Brough was reported injured straight after the match and it was felt he would be touch and go.

So it appears NO players have been rested.

Just injured players not picked.

I hope your lads realise the opportunity you have, beat St Helens and you will have a trip to either Castleford or St Helens from fourth spot. They are not gimme's but games you could very easily win, giving you a home final eliminator, a weeks rest and the chance of avoiding the big three should there be upset.

funny how skybet have suddenly taken their prices down for the match



ex giant matty dawson returning to play versus us, nathan brown has great faith in him..signed him from cas for us too.

bentham is the video ref .....

will have a bash at picking the starting 13..

connor
mcgillvary
cudjoe
wardle
broughton

bailey
robinson
lunt
kaufusi
kopczak
ferres
patrick
lawrence

bench-
faiumu
mulllally
taai
fairbank

struggling to leave murphy out, may be broughton drops out or we may see cudjoe in the halves to accomodate them both!

a week off may not be a benefit.