[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/11/07/19/RUGBYL_Wigan.html&BID=480[/url

"Wigan coach Michael Maguire admits England prop Stuart Fielden is "raring to go" but will not rush a decision over his return to action.

Fielden is pushing for a recall for Saturday's eagerly-anticipated Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final at Warrington after four months out with a knee injury."

Personally cant see Madge playing him in this one but you never know.

Given Morley is supposedly out, should we lend them a prop? (who knocks on at every PTB)

Can't see him playing.

No match fitness, and we'll need our pack at it's bruising best to win.

Dont think he will play. IMO our prop rotation will be Mossop Coley Lima & Cross.

seriously hope he doesnt play. Apparently this is only his first week at training where he hasnt pulled up with his knee - bit too soon for him to play this sat in such a battle of the forwards imo. He needs a blow out game against a lesser team and then get him game ready for Wembley

He'll play and rightly so in my opinion. He's not played for a while but with over 400 1st team appearances his experience of big games will be a massive plus. I'd play him from the bench and my pack would be
Lima
Tommy
Mossop
Hoffman
Hansen
Lockers

Bench would be

Fielden
Micky mac
Hock
Coley.

Only a fool would play Fielden on Saturday...and Maguire isn't a fool.
If he'd been out with a bad hand for 4 months, he could have done lots of running at training but with a knee injury he will be nowhere near ready. Look how Hock was blowing in his first game and he was fit.

But he can't be match fit, why throw him into one of the most important and probably intense games of the season? I would definitely play Cross instead, I think he played well against Wakey and looks fit enough to take on Warrington.

Play Stu in the Under 20s. We are not struggling for fitness in the front row, in fact we are actually 100% fit for all players with Prescott returning as well and O'Carroll playing again as well. So we ain't desperate to rush him back, particulary after signing Ben Cross.

Couldn't agree more Bilko.

For me, this week we should be having Coley, Lima, Cross, Mossop, Hock, Hoffman, Hansen, Lockers, Leuluai and McIlorum for the 6 forwards and 4 bench spots.

No way he'll play, would be nuts - which MM isn't.

Playing Fielden would be ridiculous. It makes no sense! He hasn't played in ages, his last comeback for the first team lasted 1 game and there is plenty of cover at prop.
The only player I'd bring straight back into the side would be Prescott. Wire use the same tactics of turning the player in the tackle that Leeds did and Prescott was the only one that they couldn't turn and was able to bring players to the floor and get quick play the ball.
Fielden would be too much of a risk.

Madge has made this type of mistake already in 2 big games. Amos should never have played in the CC at Leeds last year and giving Finch his debut at home to Wire fitted the same bill. Let's hope he's learned and saves him for another week.

I wish you would all stop teasing me

Cant see it but god knows we've seen this kind of decision previously.

Id play Prescott if he is fit... Prescott, Coley and Cross into 2 bench spots with Mcilorum and Hock.

I really can't see the wisdom in throwing a player into such a high-intensity game after four months out with a serious knee injury. Obviously Stu will be desperate to play but usually a rugby player isn't the best judge of what's best for them and the team. It's not like he's an impact player these days anyway. Stu's a grafter whose main asset is the volume of work he does, so a lack of match fitness will reduce what he offers to the team if he's only capable of a couple short spells

If we look at the last 2 losses against wire the games were lost up front. We were bullied by a very dominant pack and struggled to go forward. Our backs couldn't do anything cuz they had no platform to build on. Stu might not have played but I'd go with him before cross who went ok v wakey but this is not wakey. We need the forwards to do what they did v saints and I think stu and his experience will help the cause, particular if morley is out.
I'm clearly very much in the minority but hey, we all have our opinions eh? Fielden would be in my 17.

If we were talking about a fully-fit and in-form Stuart Fielden I'm sure everyone would agree with you. But we're talking about a Stuart Fielden that is recovering from major knee surgery and hasn't played rugby since the middle of February. Too big a gamble to play him in such a big game, especially when we've got a four fit and available props to pick from already. An unnecessary risk

Lima
Prescott
Mossop
Coley

Is the sensible pick with Hock on bench.

Depends if Prescotts fully fit imo, Cross didnt put a foot wrong on Friday. Not a game to be throwing Fielden in to after a long term injury, I'd be tempted to have him on the bench against Hull or even leave it til either Salford or Bradford.

I wouldn't risk either Prescott or Fielden for this one, not when they're both coming back from injury.
Cross was impressive v Wakey, and we know the other 3 won't let us down.

Lima, Coley, Cross & Mossop for me.

Cross was ok, but to say he didn't put a foot wrong isn't exactly true. He was rushing out the line looking for big tackles on a few occasions and completely missed. That's not good. Perhaps he was just trying to impress with his determination but it's not a great way to win a place in the side against a team which would have a field day if he did that against them. If he had defended sensibly I wouldn't have any worries with him being in the side.
As it stands if it's Prescott or Cross then I'd say Prescott is a stronger choice. He gets involved in fewer of the 3 man tackles and tends to get back into the area behind the ruck very early. That could be useful in trying to negate any gaps in the middle of the field. He's the best ball handler out of all the props (another attacking threat is always useful) and he's had a few weeks off so should be raring to go (just like Coley against Saints and he was a beast).

Agree.
If Fielden was going to be ready for this game he would have had at least 30 mins last week in either the U20's or first team.

Codology.

+1.... This is for the benefit of the squad... "Play well, cause these guys are breathing down your necks"

Spot on. That is a class front row and even better when you add Hoffman, Hansen, Hock and Lockers to the pack. Unbelievable. We have looked light in the pack in the last 2 games against wire, no excuse this time.