Our form in recent weeks in terms of results have been great but it's a knockout game against a good cas team.I know from a mate of mine wigan set the cup as priority to win in preseason so what's our thoughts on team selection and injured players comming back?

strongest team available.......whatever that will be

No brainer really. Strongest possible 17 v Cas. They'll want to win it but after the manner in which we beat them on the small pitch at the Jungle I don't think they'll fancy their chances as much as they would if they'd got the win. After recent results against them, that win has got a big monkey off our backs and we should be favourites for this one.

Wane said after the Widnes game that Tomkins x2, Sarginson and Lockers will be fit. I think we can assume Gelling is out and fingers crossed Williams was just precautionary. If so we should line up something like-

Tomkins
Manfredi Sarginson Gildart Charnley
Williams Smith
Crosby Powell Flower
Tomkins Isa Lockers

Tautai Mossop Sutton Burke

We'd still be missing some big players but no excuses really, that's a decent side. I'd potentially consider Shorrocks on the bench for Burke to cover the halves and Powell.

I think I'd like to see Sutton at second row again tbh. Isa or Joel coming off the bench.

I'd have Sutton off the bench. I really like this lad and if he keeps his head down and works hard he has great potential.

He's been superb there hasn't he. I just think he'll add a bit more impact then the other two. They can do the early donkey work and let him come on fresh part way through.

Would be nice to see Shorrocks again

I doubt it though, if Williams is fit he will play. Shorrocks time will come but I am not sure playing him in such a pressure game would be wise anyway (unless there is no other option).

Gale in a leg brace today, can't see him back for next week.

IMO the top four sides in SL as they currently stand will not change come round 30

So the worst case scenario for each of the top four sides that are also currently still in the Challenge Cup is that they will get an away semi final in order to make the Grand Final, Therefor I would imagine that each of these clubs would settle for that would they not?

The Challenge cup final is a fantastic show piece event which is watched by millions on terrestrial tv and is also one of the only three trophies available to win each season, So i believe that clubs currently in the top four can put the SL on the back burner and really give the CC Competition a real go

I'm going for a last four of
Huddersfield Giants
Warrington Wolves
Hull FC
Wigan Warriors

Wakefield
Warrington
Hull
Cas

If England win their Euro 2016 game tonight, they will be playing their next game at 5pm on Saturday. Probably explains why only a handful of seats have been sold so far, even with the ST discount.

It's a crazy situation.

If the football does end up being on Saturday I doubt we'll push much above 5k.

And we will now be without Ben Flower who's been charged with a grade C tackle. Certain ban coming up!

Over 20 coaches coming from Cas . 17 just from official travel alone not to mentioned all the pub coaches and those who drive. 2.5k-3k Cas I would have thought.

Thanks to our shot-shy strikers, Wigan/Cas is now only competing with the Welsh.

I should have had more faith in how bad we are at football!!

Looks like Gale is out on Saturday. He trained this morning and pulled out early with the injury that side-lined him last week.
McMeekan also doubtful, which is a shame as he has been our best forward.
So it looks like we will be going with a halfback pairing of McShane (who is really a hooker) and Millington (who is really a prop).
We will also have problems in the goal-kicking department. Without Gale, we only have Tickle who is comfortable goal-kicking, and he only plays about 40 minutes.

If Gale doesn't play I'd rather us use Rocky somewhere either at FB or HB to free up Mcshane to interchange with Milner. Dorn can play HB and we have Tom Holmes too but no doubt we will go with Mcshane and Millington. Could be the key to victory who we play in the halves as using Millington and Mcshane makes us weaker elsewhere.

General question - Why do Cas fans not use their forum on this board?
I know they have their own site but it's strange that their one on RLFANS is effectively dead?

Everyone uses the alternative forum, generally known has the nut job forum, due to one or two who fit that bill. It's a shame no one uses the RFL fans, forum has it's good to have people from other clubs comment on games, something we don't get on the other side, bar a few Waky fans.

Just as well really because the drivel that is being written on casforum this week about us is ridiculous. It is Tuesday and they have even started a thread about the referee and loading the thread up just in case they lose so they can blame him.... AGAIN!

Squad announced :
Joe Bretherton, Greg Burke, Josh Charnley, Ben Flower, Oliver Gildart, Willie Isa, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, Jack Wells and George Williams.

Assuming the fitness tests go OK for Williams and Sarge, I guess we will line up something like:
Sam
Manfredi, Sarginson, Gildart, Charnley
Williams, Smith
Flower, Powell, Mossop
Joel, Isa, Lockers
Bench: Bretherton, Burke, Sutton, Tautai

They've said Joel Tomkins will again play in the middle due to his knee problem so I'm guessing Lockers may spell at prop with Joel at 13 (or vice versa) and probably Sutton carrying on in the back row.