I agree. Only one I'd rest is Fifita.
Lyne will be fine.

PP could do with the game time anyway and will hurt them in short stints.

With the top 8 from the previous season joining the comp at such a late stage (only 3 games from Wembley), every club worth their salt should be targeting Cup success.
After all, there are only 2 trophies up for grabs each season (plus the hub cap) and we (and others) should be busting a gut to get there.
Certainly is we make it to the semis, we should rotate the squad as much as neccessary to give ourselves a shot at making the final.

It would do wonders for our support and put a few quid into the bank as well.

Apart from making the GF, there is no better way of elevating the clubs profile and attracting new fans.

One game at a time though and Widnes will be well up for this one.
Their 12 point deduction aside, they have been doing pretty well this season would be sitting around 4th in The Championship.

If possible I'd leave out Big Dave, Kirmond and Kopczak.

Widnes will be up for this one i have no doubt.

Theyll be trying to prove a point that theyre a decent outfit, that were ravaged by injuries and that our recent record isnt that good in the cup.

A lot of people are saying this could be our year, and this is a tricky tie, and with that in mind I would give the oppisition the respect they deserve, and go in with our strongest possible squad.

Also with the players out, I think were hardly in a position to rest players

Yes, go in with our strongest available 17 I say! We’re busted yes, but we’ll have had a full seven day turnaround as opposed to their five and it should be a little less intense than facing super league opposition...

It would be ideal if we could be comfortable enough throughout the game to give big Dave a kind of rest and maybe limit him to two 10-15 minute bursts!

We are busted but we're not.

We would be a better team if we had the 12 missing players available but due to good team planning we are still a strong team. A few years ago the team we are still putting out would have been considered as reasonable. and it would have been backed up by no better thean what we have left in the youth ranks, Kershaw as a prime example that the talent is still available all be it a bit raw.

2 from 4 must have given these fringe players a great deal of confidence whilst players like Lyne and Fifita ect can see their own efforts are not in vain. We are doing ok.

we must put heart and sole into this game! and our best players - we are safe in super league now . Our only hope for a trophy or even just the final is CC !

we may even get a championship team in the QF -

There is no logic in your post. We have a better chance in the GF than the CCup as logistically we will hopefully have all but a couple of players back assuming we have an injury free run.

The CCup isn’t really much easier imo than the GF once you are a certain too 5. You may play less SL opposition to get there but if you hit firm in late August you have as good a chance as anyone else.

The CCup is not the easy option imo. You need to treat them both with equal respect.

Have to say your continued attempts to play down a club you support is odd and damages your credibility in my eyes.

Credibility?

I was being polite. I'm sure he's not a bad lad and some of his points are valid but his gratuitous negativity undermines them, which is a shame. I've no issue with folk who aren't swept away by everything thats happening but you need to be able to back it up. Anyway I'm not his moral compass and we move on.

Strongest squad for me for this one. Think the strongest squad is about all we have left anyway currently. Look to reduce the number of minutes some of the forwards are doing, DF & Koppy particularly but have to send out a team who win this not chance our arm on the first year pros / u19s

Widnes fans taking it seriously so far 11 coming according to the club shop

Let's make sure they're made to feel welcome

I'll be there - can someone please make sure it isn't raining? Cheers.

Humidity
74%
Pressure
1010 mb
Visibility
Good
Temperature feels like 8°
Low chance of precipitation
Light winds from the east south east

19:00
,

9°
,
21%chance of precipitation
,
Wind speed
7 mph
East South Easterly
, More details
Humidity
77%
Pressure
1010 mb
Visibility
Good
Temperature feels like 7°
Low chance of precipitation
Light winds from the east south east

20:00
,

8°
,
21%chance of precipitation
,
Wind speed
6 mph
Easterly
, More details
Humidity
80%
Pressure
1011 mb
Visibility
Good
Temperature feels like 7°
Low chance of precipitation
Light winds from the east

21:00
,

7°
,
20%chance of precipitation
,
Wind speed
6 mph
Easterly
, More details
Light rain showers and light winds
Humidity
83%
Pressure
1011 mb
Visibility
Good
Temperature feels like 6°
Low chance of precipitation
Light winds from the east

22:00
,

7°
,
20%chance of precipitation
,
Wind speed
5 mph
Easterly
, More details
Humidity
86%
Pressure
1012 mb
Visibility
Good
Temperature feels like 5°
Low chance of precipitation
Light winds from the east

Sorted, hope it’s ok for you

I've got my ticket for tonight, but I got a general ground one. Does anyone know if I'll be able to upgrade to seating and how much it costs?

Nice one - cheers pal.

Not looking great at the moment, get the old kagool out

your ticket will get you anywhere in the ground including seating. no cost for upgrading tonight

Fantastic, thank you

You'll batter us by 40+.

It'll be men against boys, quite literally.

Still do our lads good in the long run playing a quality team, despite your injuries.

So long as your lads come to play rugby that'll do me. Obviously I don't with the greatest respect want or expect you to win but it would be quite refreshing not to see a team just trying to maim us. If you're coming across enjoy the trip.

Has the squad been announced anywhere? The only hint I've had is from the BBC site, but I don't hold faith in that (for one, it lists Randell, but the clip the club put out says he won't be playing)

Squad was announced Wednesday, I think Chester just mentioned Randell and Kirmond would likely be the 2 to drop out of the 19.

Chris Annakin

James Batchelor

Mason Caton-Brown

Jordan Crowther

David Fifita

Ryan Hampshire

Keegan Hirst

Justin Horo

Ben Jones-Bishop

Max Jowitt

Lee Kershaw

George King

Danny Kirmond

Craig Kopczak

Reece Lyne

Pauli Pauli

Tyler Randell

Ben Reynolds

Kyle Wood

Cheers. Is the song going to go 'No David Fifita, let's hope we still beat yer?'