Somewhere in between the best and worse case scenarios then - was hoping it might be around 4 weeks but relieved at least that it isn't an operation/five month lay off. And it was much more than that in 2021 - even when he came back he was a shell of what he went on to become in 2022.

Hamstring injuries must be a horrible mental challenge for pacey players - particularly when they've had a history of them.

Walmsley out for 4 weeks with a hamstring injury so he misses it too. Sad that 2 of our games best players aren't playing.

I’d prefer to see us select the same three quarter line up as last week and give Marshy another week to recover.

Real shame on Field but at least we’re early in the season and he’ll back back before the really crucial games kick in. Ultimately he’s going to have the odd issue like this because it’s usually the case with players of that pace. It could’ve been far worse I suppose.

Let’s hope on the flip side Cust gets some luck. I read somebody on the other forum saying he doesn’t need an op but not sure how accurate that is. It’s also going to have Hampshire chomping at the bit to get back and get an opportunity.

He should be back in plenty time for the CC semi-final if we get there

If KPP does play centre, with King as his wing partner, Peet should have Smith practicing his high kicks to the right wing all week.

Wigan can`t fail to score with the height advantage of KPP and King`s proven aerial capability.

With Marshall I’d go-

French
Miski King Wardle Marshall
Astley Smith
Byrne Powell Cooper
Smithies Farrell Shorrocks

Subs
Ellis Havard Pearce-Paul O’Neill

If Marshall is out, KPP at centre, King over to the wing and Singketon on to the bench. I’d give Astley his shot but do fully expect Powell to start in there. It’s easy for me to say we shouid throw a kid in mind.

Like Wigan did against Leigh? Just the four charges

I think throwing in an academy spine player with next to no first team experience into a derby with 24k watching is perhaps too big of a risk. Though perhaps Luke Hooley's horror show against Hull KR might be clouding my judgement on that.

Possibly right. He’d be a little less exposed in the halves, than the Leeds fullback was but it wouldn’t be an easy day for him. I just think it’s an occasion that has a history of young players standing up early in their careers and if we trust him, we should give him at least a bench spot. As I say though, it’s easy to say as a nostalgic fan, with a memory of kids doing well in the fixture in the past.

On a different note, I’ve just been reading a couple of rumours on Twitter that Faz may also be out. Let’s hope they stay as rumours, or else things do become extremely challenging.

I also did say that Marshall would play. Peet admits he has a good chance of playing.

Saw something on Twitter about Farrell being out.

Anyone know if there's any substance to this?

Earliest return for Cust is 6 weeks.

Like I said, we play to the edge of the rules. Won't hear Peet bitching and moaning about it like Wello though.

I love Derby week

Weather looking perfect for Friday and looking like around 22.5k sold so far, reckon it's going to be a butterflies in the stomach kind of day

I
He’s ill, not trained since the Leigh game.

It’s looking like a great occasion, it’s such a shame both teams are missing big players who can change a game.

It doesn’t take away from the occasion but would be great to see both teams go at it at full strength in front of a full house in the Spring sunshine on Good Friday.

Best week of the year.

Lets hope its a bumper weekend at the Fanzone, and the DW food remains stale and unsold until Easter Monday.

Kind of agree
But I believe Latics don't directly get the benefit of the concourse sales anymore.
They sold the rights to Sodexo, not 100% sure how it works but they got something like £1million as a lump sum and Sodexo now get the profits (not sure if the 1million was for 1 or say 10 years though, presume it's for a multi year deal).
Sodexo also paid for the upgrade and rebranding etc you can see and they employ the workers.
They did stop short of changing all the seats to Blue though
Of course the more people use it, the more Latics will get when the renewal of the deal comes up if it is making more money.
So your point still stands in a roundabout way.

I’m usually an optimist and I’m the past I’ve been referred to on here as a happy clapper!
We played well against Leigh but that seems to be clouding the judgement of a few on here. We’ve been awful in the weeks before that and it took Field going to the halves to make any difference to our attack. Without him, we’ll struggle to create anything again and if (God forbid) we end up with Powell there I can see us not scoring a single point.
Saints is the only club I’d pick Isa to play against as a first choice second row, simply because he gets under their skin but we’ve lost that too.
I fear a long day on Friday and genuinely I’m dreading it.
We’re a better side than in recent years but still way behind Saints even when they’re not firing on all cylinders. We’ve still got too many average players to even contemplate dominating the competition again and to dominate the competition we need to beat the top sides consistently. Our current squad isn’t good enough to do that.

Always expect the worst then anything other than that is a bonus

I agree - clear for all to see how reliant we are on Field and French. I'd be surprised if we get anything out of the next two games and longer term I suspect we'll end up 4th or 5th.

I think we will win