I see your point but I'd rather not go into the semi under done like has happened to many teams that have had a week off before a big game in the past.

Inclined to agree. It never seems to help, wrapping your players in cotton wool the week before a biggie.

Ben Roberts is also struggling apparently and you'd be surprised if they risk anyone.

It'll be tough on Sunday. Cas look outstanding regardless of personnel and you get the feeling they aren't Wigan's biggest fans.

Anything less then our Saints performance (and intensity) won't be enough imo.

No Gale and possibly no Ben Roberts by the looks. We may put 2 youngsters in the halves along with rest a couple more is what I am being told. May sound weird but I kind of hope you do beat us. I would rather play Hull in the semis than you guys so would be happy for you to make 3rd instead of 4th.

Fine by us, Deal???

Our 19 as follows noticeable absentees are Gale (obviously) and Benny Roberts

18. Matt Cook
5. Greg Eden
34. Alex Foster
1. Zak Hardaker
11. Oliver Holmes
23. Tom Holmes
33. Kevin Larroyer
14. Nathan Massey
12. Mike McMeeken
9. Paul McShane
10. Grant Millington
13. Adam Milner
2. Greg Minikin
21. Joel Monaghan
15. Jesse Sene-Lefao
4. Michael Shenton
19. Gadwin Springer
35. Jake Trueman
3. Jake Webster

No Junior Moors too. Possibly 3 of our main players.

Ye very weird. A Can't spake.

This is like a final for us now after Saints big win last night. Any chance we had of going through on points difference are pretty much out of the window (Saints are currently 46 points better off and likely to thump Salford next week) so only 2 wins will do it.

Moors is a bigger miss than Gale and I fancy our chances. Just a shame Lockers is missing.

It's must win but that's enjoyable in truth. I walked away from Headingley a few weeks ago saying we may as well play some kids for the rest of the year and rest players before the World Cup, so to be in this position is fantastic.

We'll have a chance of the top four right to the last game of the season and I certainly didn't see that being the case a few weeks back.

We have a much better pd than Hull. If they lose to Cas we can afford to as well, as long as we beat Wakey, then both us and Saints get through.

Not wise to rely on a side who have very little to play for against a side who have to win.

Can see Hull edging us next week. So let's assume you beat us and saints all definitely best Salford. How does that leave things for your game with Wakey ? What's the PD gap with you and saints .

What's up with SOL

If I was Powell, I'd want to go all out against Hull in that last game. What would it do for confidence if Hull paste you the week before the semi final? Cas don't need to build any more momentum than they already have but they definitely don't want to lose any either.

So with no Gale or Roberts, who are the Cas halves?

McShane and Holmes probably.

Correct.

We've nowt to come from today. But we've put ourselves in a favourable position where we don't have to be in a frantic hum dinger with you guys. There will still be pride in performance, and beating you guys will likely put you out of top 4 contention, which should be motivation enough as you're obviously going to be dangerous come the semis if you get there.

I think Jake Trueman will play. Young half with great potential.

I thinks that's a pretty fair summary.
Will be interesting to see how we perform without SOL. I am hoping ST picks up the mantle because we really need some direction I think to beat Cas today even if they have a couple of key players missing.

He certainly has. A hat trick so far. Keep it going Cas.

Embarrassing...however, nothing less than we deserve! Would of been a travesty if we made the semi's given our performances this year.

You do realise Ben Thaler is from Normanton which is in Wakefield who are fighting for 4th. Just saying. 0-24.

I wouldn't even say it's embarrassing (I say that as they've just gone over for their 5th try!) Cas have slaughtered everyone this year, they've been so good.

The level of indiscipline is whats embarrassing, we would be losing against anyone given this performance

Hopefully Wane's last home game in charge.