OK, we've lost our last 8 SL games but, Friday night gives us an opportunity to take a step forward on the road to Wembley.

In any other season, a home draw, against Championship opposition, would be celebrated and we would all be looking forward to being in the hat for the next round.
Halifax are certainly beatable and even in our current slump, we should still be too strong for them.

I'll take SL survival and a good cup run.
After all, we were never going to win the league.

Until we meet Leeds in the next round lol

Wakefield by 12

I think Wakefield will run away with this game V Halifax and people will be asking if A misfiring Wakefield can hammer a very good Championship side like Fax then in reality how big is the step up for Championship teams.

Remember the track record of almost all promoted Championship clubs during the first 14 years or so of SL.

OK, I'm with you.

Halifax have a record of P 9, W 5, L 4 so far in the Championship. They are going OK but hardly setting the world alight. Defeats have come at the hands of Leigh and Bradford (the top 2 in the Championship) and London and Featherstone. In reality they have not beaten any of the bigger sides in the Championship so we should have too much for them, even without our first 17 all available.

Not being complacent as we are not playing well at all at present but this game has to be viewed as a chance to put some of the performances of recent weeks right. If we field our strongest available side (that are injury free) then we should be able to compete and gain a much needed victory.
I don't see it being an easy game, but we should be strong enough to win it, which can hopefully build a little bit of that confidence back up.

Assuming these are all fit I would go with:

Jowitt
Johnstone
Hall
Arundel
Owen
Sammutt (let's give him a chance at stand off and see what happens)
T Smith

D Smith
McShane
Simon
Crowther
Ryan
Washbrook

Godinet
Kirke
Annakin
Molloy

Wakey by 18.
Attendance: 2560
MoM: C.Hall

Can't see him dropping love-child Jacob Miller .

Rock and a hard place for Webster (that he put himself in). Does he go with the same underperforming but "strongest" squad? Or does he go with a weaker squad that has more heart and passion? Either way, if we lose Friday night, that'll be the final straw.

Think it's not so much Miller the love child more Sammut the Devil incarnate where Webster is concerned.

I think you may be right there, however I do think that given how we have been performing we need to look at trying something different.

[iIan Kirke and Jon Molloy are in contention of a starting place for the first time this season, after being on the sidelines with injuries they picked up during pre season.

Nick Scruton also comes back into the 19-man squad after missing the Warrington game with suspension. The three players will replace Tom Johnstone, Jordan Crowther and George Griffin who has returned to Salford Red Devils after completing his one month loan at the club.

James Webster said, "Ian Kirke and Jon Molloy are named in the squad for the first time this year.

"We were hoping that Chris Annakin would be available but he pulled up a bit sore from training. Also Nick Scruton returns from suspension."

The 19 man squad is named below:[/i

Joe Arundel
Pita Godinet
Craig Hall
Ian Kirke
Danny Kirmond
Ali Lauitiiti
Paul McShane
Jacob Miller
Jon Molloy
Richard Owen
Matt Ryan
Chris Riley
Jarrod Sammut
Nick Scruton
Mickael Simon
Daniel Smith
Tim Smith
Kyle Trout
Danny Washbrook

So no Johnstone or Crowther? Dissapointed with that.

Really not sure what Crowther has to do (or how badly the others have to play) to get another go, he hasn't let anybody down when given a chance. Thought it a perfect opportunity for Johnstone as well.

Bad news Miller still in the squad. Good news kirke and malloy are back

Don't normally get involved in team selection, but agree with you here with Crowther and Johnstone, it's an ideal opportunity to give them further game time and invaluable experience, but then if you think about it, it would make too much sense.

Wonder if new signing Ben Kavanagh will be a late addition to the Halifax squad, surely he's not cup tied because this is the first round that SL clubs have been involved.

He's also a Halifax lad so he might be itching for a game against his home town team.

I think Johnstone and Crowther are ready and can't understand the reluctance to start giving them the odd run here and there, Jowitt not far off either.

Hall
Johnstone
Arundal
Owen
Riley
Godinet
T Smith
Scruton
McShane
Kirke
Kirmond
Ryan
Washbrook

Sammut
Crowther
Simon
D Smith

Websters 19:

Joe Arundel
Pita Godinet
Craig Hall
Ian Kirke
Danny Kirmond
Ali Lauitiiti
Paul McShane
Jacob Miller
Jon Molloy
Richard Owen
Matt Ryan
Chris Riley
Jarrod Sammut
Nick Scruton
Mickael Simon
Daniel Smith
Tim Smith
Kyle Trout
Danny Washbrook

It's good to see a decent pack.
It's important that the 4 SL clubs put a marker down for later in the season and do a job on the Championship clubs.

If either us or Salford wobble, it will give all of the lower league clubs a boost and we can do without that.
Let's hope that the top flight clubs can show some class and professionalism.

This is a chance to get a win and to these players it's been a scarce feeling last month.

We need to do a professional job on fax and go into our next SL game after with some enthusiasm and a game plan to get back on the horse.

I'd go with

Hall (his best position by far)
Riley
Ryan
Arundel
Owen

Godinet
Sammut (this could be a very interesting pair!)

Scruton
McShane
Simon

Lauititi
Malloy
Smith

Trout
Kirke
Washbrook
Annakin

Smith and Miller need dropping. It's not easy playing behind a thin pack but still they have been dire for how long now. Get them training and working on their game in preparation for our next league game.

Will he be cup tied?

As for the youngsters I agree - however I don't want them learning there trade in a team being thrashed - I really think it's time for the so called "pro's" to earn their corn then reintroduce the lads into a better environment.

I can't imagine what the bus ride back from Warrington was like but it's not something you really want your youngsters to be involved in.

Let Kirke and Molloy put their bodies on the line for this one.

That said I do fear we have yet another coach not willing to back any player who isn't an Aussie or comes from Leeds or Castlefords academy, ho hum.

A perfect chance to use the young lads gone. They'd have injected a large amount of enthusiasm which is something that has been in short supply recently. Can't agree with the they are not ready line, especially in Tom Johnstones case. We are playing championship opposition, not superleague. He has played a few games with Fev at that level and played them well. Crowther has looked good. And Jowitt got a sniff at Saints last year, did ok, and hasn't been seen at first team level again. We'd rather play Sammut there who will never be a fullback as long as he has a hole in his arris. It would have also allowed a rest for a few players, the club can't keep crying the 'small squad, carrying injuries, burn out' line then not rest them when we have chance. Webster has missed the boat with this one again.

Not so sure, maybe he's banking on us winning and so getting the regulars experience of a win. Plus Steve Gill has already said what a financial boon getting to Wembley was for them, we're not gonna do anything in the league so might as well give the cup our best shot.

Wembley? I'll have some of what you're smoking!

Pleased a 'strong' 19 has been selected but as others have said he should at least have given Johnstone and Crowther a run. I'd go with

Hall
Owen
Ryan
Arundel
Riley
Miller
T.Smith
Scruton
McShane
Simon
Kirmond
Molloy
Washbrook

Subs. Lauitiiti, Godinet, Dan Smith, Ian Kirke.

Although it seems far fetched, you have to win 4 games to get there and the first one is against Halifax.

All of the squad and management should be buying into the idea at this stage.
If we get knocked out later, so be it and we can get back to SL survival.

It's an ideal chance for everyone to forget about the league and chase the dream.

Come on Trin !