Leeds had a week off the week before Wembley and have another one this weekend.

Leeds have a week off this week

This week:
Wigan v Warrington - Just think we have turned the corner at the right time.
Salford v Widnes - Can't see why Widnes would go all guns blazing to win an away tie to Leeds. Better to lose and face Hudds!
Huddersfield v St Helens - The LLS isn't very important but it should prove motivation enough for Saints to get the job done here, with Hudds having one eye on the play offs
Catalans v Castleford - Cas' cup run and the trip to France to sap their energy, particularly as I don't think the LLS will be up for grabs at that point
Other three games - Who cares? All dead rubbers

Play offs Week 1
St Helens v Warrington - Really don't fancy Saints in the play offs without Walsh.
Wigan v Castleford - Time to get that monkey off our back. Think the cup run and Cats away will have taken it out of Cas as well
Huddersfield v Widnes - Obviously
Leeds v Catalans - Obviously

Week 2
St Helens v Leeds - See above for Saints. All that experience for Leeds to see them through. Eddie and Stevo to carry Jamie Peacock around the stadium on their shoulders and accidentally refer to Leeds as champions
Castleford v Huddersfield - Cas fans will love me for this! Everyone seems to have forgotten Hudds this season, but they looked pretty good when they drew with Wire a couple of weeks ago and they're unbeaten in the last six games. Plus the pressure would be on Cas as favourites at home.

Week 3
Wigan v Huddersfield - Think we're a better team anyway, plus beating Cas would take it out of Hudds whereas we would have had a week off.
Warrington v Leeds - Leeds will have Sinfield and Peacock, Warrington won't have Briers or Morley. Those key experienced blokes really make a difference in those games

Final
Wigan v Leeds - Genuinely can't call it. Leeds may be knackered but they have a bloody good track record of getting the job done at Old Trafford. It would be a classic!

This made me LOL (as young people are wont to say nowadays)

Quite a few teams look like they are running out of steam at the wrong time. Cas look like recent efforts have drained them and injuries might catch up with Saints and Wire now things are getting serious. Catalan and Widnes might pull off a shock but they aren't serious contenders. Leeds have yet to show their hand and who knows which Huddersfield will show up.

Wigan v Leeds final.

I rate the playoff teams like this, on a scale of no hopers to most likely champions.

Widnes - out 1st week, not good enough for the playoffs.

Catalans - out 1st week, good at home but won't beat Leeds away.

Castleford - look knackered, doubt they'll win another game.

St Helens - ultimately a lack of creativity will cost them.

Leeds - been there and done it many times and always a threat but a tough ask to do it the long way round when they've played all the CC games. Form is poor as well.

Warrington - Look in good form but seem to be picking up injuries at the wrong time. Will not be far away though.

Huddersfield - not been talked up by many but could well win it - really physical team and will be motivated by last year's playoff failure.

Wigan - I've looked at it objectively but would have to class us as favourites, simply because we have a full squad and have come into great form at the right time.

My biggest worry is the goal kicking!

Predictions now we know who we are playing in the play offs (though I did get 3/4 of the league results right, only Saints let me down!):

Week 1:
St Helens v Castleford - Think Cas will be knackered from the cup. Would have fancied them at home
Wigan v Huddersfield - Huddersfield look in good form but so do we, and I reckon we are the better team. Think we'll just about nick it by 6 points or less
Warrington v Widnes - Obviously
Leeds v Catalans - Obviously

Week 2:
Huddersfield v Leeds - I was in two minds about this one but history tells us Leeds always at least make it to the semis (2006 was the last time they didn't). Experience to just about see them though but they'll be out on their feet
Castleford v Warrington - The pressure is really on at the jungle at the best of times, never mind when your season is over if you lose. Cas wouldn't really be under the same pressure with the vocal home crowd in their favour and the players knowing they have had a great season whatever happens, thus potentially chancing their arm a bit more as underdogs. It's a big shout but I think Wire will crack in that situation without Briers and Morley to lead them.

Week 3:
St Helens v Castleford - Saints would have just beaten Cas two weeks previously so surely would pick them over Leeds. Saints probably to put a bit of a score on Cas here with them having had a week off and Cas being knackered from beating Wire
Wigan v Leeds - Again I think we would be a lot fresher and maybe get the job done a bit easier than you may expect

Week 4:
Wigan v St Helens - A repeat of the 2010 final with the same outcome

Week 1
Wigan v Hudds
Saints v Cas
Leeds v Catalans
Wire v Widnes

Week 2
Cas v Wire
Hudds v Leeds

Week 3
Wigan v Leeds
Saints v Wire

Grand Final
Wigan v Wire