Lam has got some decisions to make this week in terms of hooker and halfback positions, also I’d be starting French on the wing and I’m pretty sure Clubb will be banned for the Hastings elbow during his try but my team would look something like

Hardaker
French
Hankinson
Gildart
Marshall
Williams
Tommy
Flower
Borough
Partington
Farrell
Isa
Smithies

O’Loughlin
Greenwood
Byrne
Sammut

Sammut on the bench would allow Amir to have a breather whilst Tommy/Williams went to hooker and Sammut slotting in at halfback

Hardaker
Marshall Sarginson Gildart Burgess
Williams Leuluai
Flower O’Loughlin Partington
Isa Farrell Smithies

Subs
Clubb Byrne Greenwood French

Navarrete for Clubb if he’s banned.

Playing either Amir & Sammut in a game like this would be suicidal. I prefer Williams at six to french however lets give French a shout at hooker. If we can get quick play the balls he would be lethal. If it isn't working out then put leuluai to hooker but lets leave Williams at six.

So playing an actual hooker or halfback in their correct positions would be suicidal but playing someone at hooker who’s never played there in his life wouldn’t be?

French can’t do the level of defence required in the middle. Likely neither can Borough for the minutes required and Tommy can’t do a lot of minutes at 9 anymore. It has to be Williams.

Yes. Amir isn’t yet ready for this level of intensity and Sammut hasn’t played for 5wks or so and would be gassed after 20 mins.

Putting Williams at nine would nullify a lot of our attack. Our most potent attacking weapon at dummy half doesn’t work for me.

French to FB. Big call but I wanna roll the dice. We play split halves rugby. We desperately need an attacking linking FB. French can play the position very similar to Tomkins. That’s what we need.
This is no knock on Zak, but the system doesn’t lend itself to his style of play. Ask yourself... how often have you seen Zak link out wide and go through a gap or feed the outside backs? Doesn’t really happen. With Frenchs style and pace with our back line that move would give us something we’ve rarely seen in 2019.

French as a play making first receiver doesn’t work just yet. He’s a strike weapon not a creator in a split halves system. This means we stick with the tried and tested GF winning pair of Tommy and Williams at 6 and 7.

Hardaker must play. Fill in in the centres or on the wing.

Only other issue is 9. Go with Amir or Lockers. Personally I’d interchange both from 9.

Hardaker
Burgess
Gildart
Sarginson
Marshall
SOL
George
Clubb
Tommy
Partington
Isa
Farrell
Smithies

Flower
Byrne
French
Greenwood

I think Hardaker could play hooker at a push.

I'm sure we'll bring Shorrocks or Sammut in on the bench - I'd probably prefer to start Sammut over French in the halves. French is what was advertised - a full back or winger.

All assuming Powell can't play of course - if he's avoided a break you know he's the type of bloke who will want to play.

For me until fitness or otherwise of Sarginson and Powell is confirmed it is a little pointless in trying to speculate team selection.
This is further compounded by Clubb's availability also perhaps being in question.
Powell for me would be a bigger loss than the other two.

I wouldn't play Zak at 9 personally. I don't think he's ever played there in his life; I could be wrong though. It's a position which is vital to the attack and of course is a key part of the defence playing in the middle; I wouldn't feel confident asking this of Zak.

I want to see us with French at the back. As much as I rate Zak; which I do, under our current system with our style of play it just doesn't suit him. His shows up week in week out. If you're playing split halves you need that out wide link man, we've got a glimpse of how French can attack given space, just imagine him put through gaps outside of either half.

Our attack has stuttered all season. Try French at 1 and see the difference.

You’d love to think there will be good news on Powell but it’s tough to see it. I fully agree he’d be a huge miss and it’s just not a player you can replace like for like at the minute.

Anyone but Williams to 9. Our best attacking threat needs the ball in space.

I wonder how Smithies would get on as a makeshift 9 though I’m not sure this is the game to try it.

I’d be inclined to move TL to hooker & play Sammut if fit in the halves with French on the bench to change things about if required.

Hardaker
French
Sarginson/Hankinson
Gildart
Burgess
Williams
Smith
Clubb
Tommy
Partington
Farrell
Isa
Smithies

Lockers
Flower
Greenwood
Byrne

I’ve gone with a strong pack and bench because this game will be won or lost in the middle. Pointless in keeping a back on the bench. Plus Lockers can cover, if needed, at 9/6/7. That’s not ideal granted but it’s an option.

Lam commented at the fans forum that we may have our strongest side of the season out on Friday and said they need to check on Sarginson and Powell. He didn’t say it but you’d guess they’ve had better news on Powell than feared.

I'm more confident than I was.

I don’t agree with your opening line about split halves rugby mate. Williams has been devastating on the right this season because he plays both sides of the field, outside of TL. Our structure is different these days when we have the ball.
I’d have to go with French and Williams in the halves with ZH at fullback.
Please to have Partington back.

We play split halves. It's as clear as day. Williams plays and controls one side and Tommy plays and controls the other. Does this mean they won't appear on either side of the pitch? No.

We don't at all play with a lead 7 with a 6 off him whatsoever. When French came on, his role was to run the left side, and it was a bit of a mess. It wasn't Tommy leading French around the pitch with French playing off him at all. It was French used as a playmaker, on the left edge. However as he's had limited time in the role and the combinations weren't there which makes him look like he's not a half.

This season our attack looks different as we have Zak who's not really a pivot, our attack is clunky at times. I massively rate Zak, but the system doesn't cater to him. Give French an opportunity to play 1. You'll see a difference in attack.

Who in their right mind would play Williams at 9. Give your heads a wobble

Adrian Lam? He did last week anyway. I certainly wouldn’t go that way if we need to replace Powell. The indications last night from Lam were that we may not have to but he didn’t say anything concrete either way.

We’ll have to agree to disagree. The split halves was clear as day under Waney but not anymore. Williams was predominantly left sided and the vast majority of our attack went down our left. Lam has removed the shackles and given him a much bigger license to roam and he’s had a ball on our right edge. Which ever way we go, Williams is outside of Leuluai and causing havoc.

Anyway back on topic......

Can anyone explain to me why Saints fans don't think it is possible for a team to outplay them?

The only way they can lose is if the don't play as well as the fans expect them to (whatever that is or what that means)

Warrington didn't beat them, they beat themselves, the ref did them etc etc. From what i am reading, that is the only way we win this game. Them not turning up and the ref being bias towards us................because ref's are always bias towards us. The modern day Super League fan blames the ref for everything, especially if they have just been beaten by Wigan. It's pathetic.

We’re certainly going into it with nothing to lose this week. It’s a Keven Keegan king of game.... I would love it if we beat them!!!