Rest as many as possible or keep going in the hope the attack might spark ?

Play everyone who hasn’t been playing. We have been battered with injuries and poor form so a rest should help with recovery but will never help the attack this season regardless.

I would rest as many as possible, we’ve not had the extra “COVID” break that other clubs had. How many times as Lam claimed the attack was ready to click? Against an under strength Hull it was more of the same.

Options are limited in some areas but I'd definitely give Hanley O'Neil Bullock and Clark a lot of game time just on the off chance they really are needed (injury/suspension) also Isa's back so he could give someone a break

I'd rest the young props, Farrell and Gildart. I'd also test out a Hastings/Field partnership although I acknowledge there's very little time left to make that work.

I’d rest the players that have put a big effort in this season. The ones that have done it consistently over 20-25 rounds plus. That would probably be Bibby. Hardaker, Smith, Hastings, Faz, Partington and Havard (just about). I’d give Gildart the night off as well.

That would leave me at-

Hanley
Halsall Isa McDonnell Marshall
Field Powell
Bullock O’Neill Clark
Bateman Pearce-Paul Shorrocks

Subs

Byrne
Smithies (if fit)
Nicholson
Bourouh

Rest as many as possible. You can bet that Catalans will be doing the same.

I don’t think it matters, we won’t win the first play off game. Personally I’d rest and put in some fringe players. It’s a dead rubber game so no need or reason to go full strength. In fact the only reason I can think is because it’s an ‘Emergency Services’ game and there should be more than usual with hopefully some new fans coming along.

I’ve been down on us for months but I do think we’ll give the play offs a fair crack. It might be blind optimism but I think we’ve built a bit of confidence these past few weeks. It’s confidence without the ball and we’re still striving to find it with the ball but play offs victories are usually based on defence.

This is a very big ‘if’ but if Lam picks the right side we can hopefully settle down and trouble teams a bit more. There is no reason to change the backline now. Hardaker is going well at fullback, Halsall and Bibby are going well on the right and the others pick themselves at the minute given Fields continuing injury struggles. We need to get Isa back in the pack and we need more of the same from the weekend from Singleton, Havard and Byrne and if that all comes together we could win the first game and whisper it quietly but we could even pinch a place at Old Trafford. I’m still not at all convinced Catalans will find that play off extra gear.

Maybe I’m dreaming.

Il think we'll sneak a win in the first one and then get stuffed in Perpignan (again).

I hope you’re both right (NK and MadDogg) and perhaps it’s the cynicism inside me but I don’t see us winning v Catalans or Warrington.

I can’t deny our defence of late has been brilliant and if SL were decided on that alone, we’d win hands down. But we can’t attack for toffee and struggle when opposing sides get a roll on - not necessarily conceding points but don’t make yardage at all.

Here’s hoping for a you’re right and I’m wrong post in 10 days.

I’d say your in the favourites seat with that opinion but we can all dream. What we will need in a big semi is to get an early try. The longer it drags in games, the more the pressure piles on and it looks less and less likely we’ll get any points. If we can grab early points and get a Saints or Catalans in a bit of panic mode you never know.

A home game against Cas, Hull KR or a weakened Leeds is winnable. We'll have no chance against Catalans or Saints. Warrington maybe an outside chance but we won't play them as we'd each have to beat one of Catalans or Saints to meet in the GF.

If we sneak through the first week, going to Catalan or Saints (if wire lose week 1) an and underdog with nothing to lose could be interesting.

Maybe I’m being disrespectful to Catalans but I’d give us a fair shot against them. It’s a totally different ball game play off rugby and as a club they don’t have much experience of winning play off games. Guys like Tomkins, Maloney and McIlorum help on that score but it’s the one team from them, Wire and Saints I could see us pushing extremely close. I’d actually be extremely nervous about playing HKR. I think they have the personnel and they’ll have that nothing to lose attitude that could well turn us over before any semi anyway.

Much rather play Leeds than HKR, their off loading game has killed us, Leeds will be an arm wrestle and if we keep them below 12 we'll have a chance, with the best will in the world it's hard to see us getting any further than that though

I'd agree with your premise but I feel like we have lost a fair bit of big game experience too without Williams, Leuluai, Flower and Lockers.

We have but there’s still plenty left and it is in the clubs dna to rise at this time of the year. A lot of those young boys did it last year and there’s still guys like Hardaker, Gildart, Hastings, Powell, Bateman, Singleton, Isa, Farrell and Bateman who have been through these play offs time and again. They’d be huge favourites but I wouldn’t put it past us. Even though they lack play off experience I’d be really nervous about playing HKR. I think they’ll chance their arm and throw it around and play a very non traditional play off game.

Those experienced play off players know how to win a play off game. Whilst throwing it about and play non traditionally might work in regular season games, play off games are a whole different ball game (excuse the pun) and have to be played differently, the intensity in D and attack are different, the crowd noise, can pressure etc. Despite losing twice to them this year I’d say we should be beating HKR/Leeds in the play offs simply because of that experience, I’m not saying we’d trounce them but I don’t think we should expect anything less than a win. The likes of Catalans/Saints/Warringtons I don’t think we have a cat in hells chance.

I’d rest as many as possible this week, it’s been a long season for us.

I expect Catalan to be pretty much full strength as they have a week off next week & won’t want to go into the semi undercooked.

If Catalans do go full strength (ish), then a tanking for a weakened Wigan side won't be great either.

True, a tanking and fatigue for a full strength side would be worse though.

James McDonnell has been recalled from his loan and will be in the squad on Friday. I think we can safely say we’ll be resting plenty.

Pretty much expected in fairness. I think I’d prefer us to go all out but can see why we’d rest.

He's also brought Isa and Clubb back in.

Who knows what team Lam will play tho. He could put Isa anywhere.