Bateman is ok and so is Flower according to Wane so it's interesting to see what we do. The big question would seem to be the wing/centre spots. We simply can't drop Manfredi but Burgess and Charnley did little wrong. I think I'd slot Bateman in at centre for Gildart. The lad has been excellent and I think he's going to be a top player but he was physically battered each time he got the ball last night and the lift in intensity these past two weeks has just got a little much for him (at such a young age and with him being so slight).

I'd go-

Bowen
Manfredi
Burgess
Bateman
Charnley
Williams
Smith
Crosby
McIlorum
Flower
Tomkins
Farrell
Lockers

Subs
Clubb
Mossop
Patrick
Powell

I agree that Gildart was physically dominated and that would be a concern to play him in the semi. Bateman is the safer option. It looks like Burgess isn't over that injury because he looks a shadow of the player he's been during most of the season. He looked to be struggling for pace at times. It would be a big call to leave him out of the team though as he's been the best winger in Super League this year.

I was surprised that Manfredi has been left out the team in recent weeks because he has always looked better than Charnley. Even though Charnley has improved and is finding some form again there was no way that he was a better option.

Crosby had his best game in a long time which was good to see and I thought Mossop has continued his upturn in form too.

There aren't too many selection headaches as the team almost picks itself now. The only issue is who plays in the centres.

I'd be surprised if Burgess plays to be honest. He could barely run.

Difficult to argue with that. Tough on Gildart and I'm not convinced Burgess looked completely comfortable at centre but the selection you have done there at least keeps Joel, Faz and Bateman on the field for the full 80 and keeps Manfredi in, who definitely can't drop out now.

Yeah, agree with all that. Gildart certainly hasn't done much wrong; he put his tackles in against bigger blokes and stuck to his task. Eventually getting over in the corner last night after being held up a couple of times lately must have been satisfying for him, and a just reward. But I expect Wane will go with Bateman (who, after all, we have to find a place for in the 13 somewhere!). The only doubt is Burgess. As said, he doesn't look either fully fit, or right at centre. So it's not impossible that we might go back to Gildart and Bateman in the centres. But not likely.

And I'd just like to say once again, ****** Thursdays!

Right, that's ticket bought, hotel booked. Just need to book train tickets (probably the best way to get there), and a day and half off work...

Burgess and Manfredi wingers with Bateman at right centre. Charnley dropped. Not ideal to have Gildart in there for such a big game but Gelling doesnt deserve a spot.

I know Burgess had a few assists last night but i thought that was more down to poor defending than anything else. He shouldnt play centre.

Waney's team selection will be vital for this.
Burgess didn't look fit last night, Gildart was overpowered and until the sin binning we were pretty unconvincing.
He won't pick Gelling so it's anyone's guess for the centre positions.
The rest of the team picks itself really.

I've got a feeling he will go with Bateman and Gelling at centres.
Cas definitely went hard into Gildart last night and he looked vulnerable. He will most certainly improve and actually I think he is ahead of schedule in terms of his positive first team appearances. A great prospect who will improve in next few seasons.
I said at the start of the season we would regret having not one quality centre. I sincerely hope I'm wrong on this as I'm usually wrong on most things.
I know Thornley wasn't SWs cup of tea but surely he was a safer prospect than Bateman or young Gildart. A very odd piece of business letting him go.

Yes Cas ran at Gildart thinking he might be a weak link. But he proved that he wasn't vulnerable at all! Thornley was a revolving door in defence at times and Gelling? Well would you seriously risk him in such an important game when he has proven to be a liability on so many occasions. Hudds would certainly target him! Gildart has earned his place for me and has shown that he has the attack you want from a centre. Sure he is not the finished article yet but he has earned his place and I think SW will keep him in the team. "If you are good enough you are old enough!".

I reckon that dropping Gelling has been a calculated kick up the arris by Waney.

Gelling and Bateman back at centre on Thursday.

But good to see Gildart these past few weeks. Another youngster blooded by Wgan. He didn't let us or himself down.

I totally understand your points but I just have this sneaking feeling that SW will go with Gelling primarily because Huddersfield will be relentless in their attack on Gildart if he plays. Whoever plays it could be a pivotal decesion by SW.

Did we let him go as you accuse... Or did he want to leave?

No love lost between the two of them however, you would think SW would have bitten his lip so to speak until the end of the season before releasing him.

So, fault on both sides?

Whether it's Gelling or Gildart (and frankly I hope it's one or the other, and not a winger squeezed in at centre), I'm confident we have the side to win anyway. People are talking about Gelling being a big risk, just cos he pulled one of his daft tricks last time out. But that's him, and does it really make him any more of a risk than earlier in the season when he was a regular centre and regarded as one of the best in SL? As for Gildart, Cas played a big second-rower up against him, and he found it hard, but he stuck to his task, and got the try his determination deserved. Certainly, fears that he might be a turnstile in SL have proved unfounded, and he is lively and confident in attack.

We should be pleased with the options we have, not agonising about them!

I suppose a question to ask would be who would Huddersfields centres least like to face at centre?

The answer to that IMO probably would be Gelling and Bateman for different reasons. In Gelling you have a guy who can pull anything out the hat and even in a bad day he's as big a handful defensively as there is in superleague. Then in Bateman you have an ultra aggressive defender who doesn't give anybody a minute in attack or defence.

They'd be happier to face our pairing from Friday.

i don't think our centres will be too fussed about who they face, certainly cudjoe and wardle are our most likely centre pairing and i don't think any other centres in SL hold any fear for them.

Keep it simple - Charnley is 3rd best Winger at the moment, so he misses out.

I agree if all are fully fit, but Burgess couldn't get out of first gear on Friday. He misses out if he isnt 100% for me

It isn't a case of fear but however good you may (well unless you're Inglis or Mal Meninga maybe)be you'll always have thoughts on who you'd rather face and which players you rate more highly then others.

Your centres are a solid pairing that's for sure but they certainly aren't world class by any stretch.

Haven't got a clue.

Why blame Shaun Wane then?

Or is that just the default position when you haven't got a clue?

It's been noticeably quiet on here lately as we are within sniffing distance of yet another GF under SW.

Not sure what you expect? A big well done for doing his job right? It's quite simple really he's the head coach of Wigan RL - if he isn't winning games or winning trophies he's failing.

If we don't win the GF then 24 months without a trophy is unacceptable and should cost him his job.

That sounds bonkers to me.

Quite apart from anything else, you'd think there was a queue of better qualified around the block for the job. There isn't, and with the resources available to him this season SW has done fine in my book. The best you can achieve in the Super Eights is to finish in the first two and secure a home tie in the semi. We have done that: I don't see what more people expect.