Not in the least, never thought I would say this but Saints have been good this season and don't deserve to have lost their title as the entertainers to Wire, although that is only Wiggy's opinion. No doubt in my mind that both teams will be going into this game with players carrying more injuries and knocks than they have all season and think the timing of the games for the challenge cup is barking mad - comp starts early on in the season, super league clubs join in at the start of May with the 5th round a couple of weeks later then they forget about it for two months before staging a quarter final and a semi final inside two weeks - which brainchild at the RFL who had just undergone a frontal lobotomy thought that schedule up! The challenge cup was always so special to many of us - regardless of whether we were taking part or not - but that all seemed to change when they moved it from May to August.

We have been inconsistent this season mainly due to the injuries we have had. But we were marvellous against Hull KR and were the same against Cas, bar a blip in the first half. Since we had no interchanges in the second half it was little wonder we let in a couple of soft tries at the end as in those hot and humid conditions with no interchanges the team was always going to be knackered. If our walking wounded heal before the weekend - a big if, this season! - then I think this match could go either way because although Roby is still a vital cog in the wheel, he is no longer our only cog in the wheel. We should also have Clough back, since he made it through a full 80 minutes of u20s action, so he will replace Magennis. All going well, we will be just one prop down with a couple of sparrows on the wings. That constitutes the strongest team we have had available all season.

And we are no longer the slowest team in Superleague.

We are beatable, but I thought it'd be Wire if it was anyone. And we battered them. So think we'll win by a few tries - unless the players turn up thinking they've already won, like they did against Bradford.

This for me.....which although is not invincible, or unbeatable with no guarentees, is a good place to be in.

We play to our potential and play like we did against wire, Saints wont be able to stop us....Wire couldnt and Wigan and Wire are streets ahead of saints.

The worry is if we don't play as we can, even slightly off our top level and saints have a stormer, it will be a close game and saints could edge it....but if thats the case then we'll only have ourselves to blame

We need a big start again I feel - Dominate the first 30 mins as we did at widnes and I think the games ours. Play like we can, to our potential, we'll be going to wembley.

i was one of the few confident before the wire game, and predicted wigan by 10+, although i was worried at half time.
this time, im apprehensive, but quietly confident...wigan by 4-6,

I think Wigan having an extra two nights to turn around will be advantageous as both teams seem to have picked up a few knocks. No surprises that Leeds got the biggest turnaround playing Friday then Sunday



I also think that Wigan have the better playmakers with their four halfbacks on the field, Tomkins, Finch, Deacon and Leuluai, they create space on the left with ease at times.

That being said, it's a one off game and anything can happen, and that's what makes them so exciting.

Throw Lockers into that as well. The way the all link up is superb.

Fully confident for this me.

I'm not confident in the slightest

Fuck Off

If we control the ball like we did at widnes we will win the game. The defence needs tightening a bit as we all know charnley and joel are going to be targeted all day. I'd be tempted to swap deacs and finch around in the defensive line to see if finch can stabalise that side a bit more. Start McIllorum from the off and bring tommy on after 25 minutes for me. I'm going to say a wigan wigan by about 14 points! We prepare for this like a final in my eyes! It truly is that important!

saints don't have the big game mentality anymore and have fewer game-breakers than they have done in the past when they've come up against us.

we are unbeaten in 8 consecutive games with the best defense in the SL (i know this is a CC game!) and we only have to cut out certain players in their side and we can rule the game. they have a bigger job on than us and therefore i am uber confident!

Don't say stuff like that!!

Im even less confident than I was at the start of the week, got a horrible feeling its going to be a bad, bad day Saturday.

Sounds like an obvious point, but it all boils down to who's got the steeliest mentality.

Wigan, on paper, are a better outfit than Saints at present. But Wigan have a habit of not turning up for certain big matches. If they do that, Saints - whose tenacity in hanging on near the top despite having no ground this year, lots of injuries etc, is admirable - will sense they can cause an upset and will go for it.

As others have said, Wigan need to come out all guns blazing as they did against Wire, but they need to maintain it for as long as possible - they cannot afford to pack in at any stage. They must keep going, and deny Saints any self-belief (which is one area, I feel, where they may be more vulnerable than Warrington).

The last thing we need in this match is a Wigan side looking blase. It's almost impossible to imagine that anyone would do that in a big Cup game, but look at our last two CC semis.

I'm 50/50 as it's the Derby, however Saints wins versus the best two sides in SL this season (Wigan & Wire) = 0/5

Quite funny this thread, some people are all doom and gloom and we've got no chance, whereas others reckon we're gonna walk it! Play to our clinincal best, keep the penalty count down and the completion rate high and we've got every chance. But we definitely shouldn't be underestimating Saints who are likely to be fielding one of their strongest squads of the season. Should be a belter. Can't wait now, this weeks dragging like mad!!

fair point saints havent beaten any of the top 4 this season (big games) which is a worry. however we are on a good run of form also at the moment and starting to get injured players back. i think it will be a lot closer to call than the widnes game. its all down to whether saints can get a quick play the ball. if you slow us down there is only one winner in my opinion

Never confident, they have an ability to beat any team when on song.

Should be a great game.

Aha Pie People, do I detect a touch of the one season wonders syndrome?

Saints will give it a good go, but I suspect you'll squeak through. We have been practising our "Wigan Way" tackling techniques, so Cas forwards can expect some pain in the knee joint area, and a lengthy spell on the ground at the PTB.

Looking forward to bashing you at Wembley.

My confidence from the start of the week is fading into optimisim due to reading some of the post on here, I just hope the weather stays off so we can have one hell of a spectacle

your has beens arent fit enough...

Would love a to beat Leeds at Wembley - it makes up for the times you have knocked us out in recent years

You don't need to go to all that trouble. You just need a captain who will talk to your coach.

So, Wellens is definitely not playing then?

Pity.