Looking forward to this one rather than with the dread of the last few seasons

Field
French
Bibby/Halsall
Pearce-Paul
Marshall
Cust
Smith
Singleton
O'Neil (assume Powell still out)
Cooper
Farrell
Bateman
Smithies

Byrne
Ellis
Mago
Partington/Shorrocks (would've been Havard but no mention of him being close to fitness)

Be nice to have a good intense game. Some of the last few weeks have been like training sessions.

Powell, Havard and Tommy are all pushing for the Catalan game I believe.

Powell missing in this one as he’s a rock defensively.

Interesting KPP has switched to left centre in recent weeks. Is that to add a bit of size up against Hurrell (whose been a good signing for Saints). Or is it because having Cust and Bibby defending next to each other was too poor? Centre spot has really been a weakness are year.

Hopefully Leeds beat Huddersfield on Wednesday so we know we only need 1 win in the last 3 games to secure 2nd.

Isa will be in the 17 if fit.

Regarding KPP, I think the former applies. Had Thornley been fit then I think they would have been our centre pairing in big games.

Surely not. I wouldn't even play him above Partington.

Was he injured against Toulouse ?

He missed several weeks around the cup win.

Not that Ian aware.

[list[/list:u

JB has been out for over a month so his fitness levels may need managing, Isa will provide cover for him and the centres.

My prediction,Wigan will be too strong and will win by 8 points or more.
It is a opinion not a fact as it hasnt happened yet and is based on wishful thinking and a great desire to watch St Helens lose to a bang average team as quoted before.

2 games in 3 days.

As tempting as it would be to play Field and French vs Saints I don’t think it’s wise to play either in both games.

I’d probably play start each of them at full back in each game, resting the other.

Having them fit for the playoffs is key.

Saints

French
Miski
Bibby
KPP
Marshall
Cust
Smith
Cooper
O’Neill
Singleton
Farrell
Bateman
Partington

Mago
Ellis
Byrne
Shorrocks

Hull KR

Field
Bibby
Halsall
KPP
Miski
Cust
Smith
Ellis
O’Neill
Bryne
Isa
McDonnell
Smithies

Shorrocks
Mago
Singleton
Partington

Only one game in the weekend for our speedsters (French, Field, Marshall) and for our high work rate back row (Farrell, Bateman, Smithies).

Just an idea. Think both teams would be capabale of winning.

Getting Tommy, Powell or Havard back would be handy.

No way will Peet rest Field against Saints.

He will want to put a marker down with a win. That would make it 2 wins each for the season and put some doubt in Saints particularly if they win well.

As strange as this sounds given how often he has played I think Hopoate is key on Friday. He is a classy player when he plays, chimes into the line well and allows Welsby to play at 6. Hopoate was superb for 40 mins on Friday. If he misses out then it will likely be Welsby at 1 with Roby in the halves which does not work at all. My worry also is with Bennison and Davies together on the left edge up against French. Two inexperienced lads so I wonder if Woolf will split Makinson and Hurrell up and put Makinson against French.

The way to beat Saints is on the edges with pace. Salford did it comprehensively and Wigan certainly have the players to do likewise. We may well come unstuck on Friday but I'd still back us in a Grand Final with the way that those games are played.

I was puzzled by the Hopoate signing, thought he was well past it. But he was superb at magic.

I don’t see Friday as too important, obviously would love to win but it’s all about that potential grand final meeting.

Firstly, it's Wigan Saints so obviously I want to win the game and win well.

However, as NSW says it's all about the GF meeting (possible) so if we lose this one and Saints win 3-2 for the season but we take the cup semi and the GF then who will really care? They can have the shield. So what? You don't win the league. It's called the League Leaders Shield, not the Winners Shield. The GF is what counts and what will be remembered.

We are a lot closer to them than we were 12 months ago, of course we are, but we still have plenty to fix up to be seen as favourites against them so I'm more interested in seeing if we have fixed those and what Cooper brings to the pack against them. Fix up the errors and the cheap penalties and let's see where we end up.

I think Peet will play the strongest squad with a view to putting a marker down for our next meet (if we win of course).

Then rest some players for HKR.

If Leeds beat Hudds and we win Friday then we can shuffle the deck ahead of the playoff and try to get players as fresh as we can.

Like the Magic game I still think the most important thing when looking forward to a [ipotential[/i GF is to make sure its close and competitive. We wouldn't want to be going into a playoff game against Saints off the back of a comprehensive defeat against them.

Other than that the biggest reward is the 2 points, the possibility of nailing down 2nd and being able to rest some players. Whether we do that this week or against Hull KR it doesn't really matter.

We need to win full stop.

We have to show we need it more than they do. No excuses for them out working us in this one.

So Will "made of biscuits" Hopoate is out for Friday. Could be a long night for us.

Will either be Welsby at 1 with Roby at 7 which hasn't worked every game we've tried it, or Bennison at 1 with Simm on the wing. That's my least favourite option. Either way its another patched up backline up against a good team with genuine pace.

That's 3 out of the first choice back 5 injured, 4 if you include Matautia and 4 out of the first choice 1-7 if you include Dodd.

I know teams get injuries but ours are all in the backs up against 2 of the best players in the competition in the backs

Excuses in early Stu

Just being honest. It's easier to deal with injuries when they are spread through the team. Unfortunately for us they are all in the backs. Even Matuatia can cover well at centre, he played for Australia at centre.

If the injuries were in the forwards I'd feel more confident as Wigan's pack isn't as good as their backs. However when you have Field, French (and Marshall) to be fair up against a patched up backline then naturally there are concerns.

I don't expect us to win on Friday but I'll be there regardless and I'm still confident in a GF if Hopoate and Matautia are back and we don't get any more injuries. That's even without Percival who I don't think we will see again this year.

Well you did lose the semi with Percival and Makinson in your backs pace to burn only didnt burn fast enough to catch Marshy.
I have us winning by 8 regardless of who or who might not play for St Helens and in the GF I also would have us winning whoever plays for Saints.

Of course you could win both games.

I know you think Saints fans bleat about injuries too much and I know that Wigan still have 3 out but its interesting that Wigan are favourites for Friday. They are -2 with the bookies. -2.5 with Bet365.

That for me tells you everything about Friday. When was the last time Wigan were favourites against Saints? I bet its been a few years.

Well we are at home for a start,and only just favourites,and yes I think saints fans do go on too much about players missing as it is a great excuse when you lose.
I also think if you had a full squad and we have a full we could still win unlike you when you say 100% you would win.

Saying all of that I bloody cant wait for Friday (2 more sleeps

)

Havard, Thornley, Tommy L and Powell.