Big game this against a team that has caused us problems in all three games this year and are in good form, win and we are in a good position and could potentially rest a couple of players for the Hudds game.

Hopefully full strength and some big selection headaches for the boss.

The two big selection debates are Griffin or Connor and does Michaels take Fonua's place after a couple of errors ridden displays.

Certainly winnable game if we perform how we can, I hope we treat this game as a cup game.

For me both griffin and fonua stay. Connor and Michaels or griffin fonua defo the latter

Probably the biggest game of the Super 8's for me. Win, and we go 4 clear of Saints, and with Salford playing Cas, we can really cement 3rd place.

Fonua whilst great in attack is defensively weak, on the wing it's not as pronounced but still obvious but in the centre he's at times just awful.
Griffin is no great shakes defensively either and I just hope that Saints don't take advantage of those weaknesses if they are picked.
We need a performance to equal that against Leeds in the semi-final if not better or we'll come unstuck.

Salford definately targeted Griffin/Fonua edge.
As knocker pointed out both are weak defensively.
I would play Michaels with Fonua at centre for what he brings to the attack.
Dont see the point risking Sneyd if he is carrying an injury.

for me this year michaels defence has dropped off, id would rather have griffin fonua and with more game time sort out some of the problems they have been having occasionally,

Super 8s

ST HELENS V HULL FC
FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST
TOTALLY WICKED STADIUM
KO : 20:00
Referee: J Child
Touch Judges: G Jones C Sharrad
In Goal: Geffory Poumes
In Goal 2: A Williams
Reserve Referee: C Campbell
M Com: P Crashley
Time Keeper: A Brown

Oh deep joy.....

We've won seven out of the last eleven games with Child as referee.

That said in the three games this season so far we've had three yellow cards and one red. Hopefully he isn't too whistle happy on Friday.

Liam had better be on best behaviour then...

Hull FC:

1. Jamie Shaul, 2. Mahe Fonua, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 4. Josh Griffin, 5. Fetuli Talanoa, 6. Albert Kelly, 7. Marc Sneyd, 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Danny Houghton, 10. Liam Watts, 13. Gareth Ellis, 14. Jake Connor, 15. Chris Green, 16. Jordan Thompson, 17. Danny Washbrook. 19. Steve Michaels, 21. Sika Manu, 22. Josh Bowden, and 28. Brad Fash.

Saints:

1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 16. Luke Thompson, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 20. Morgan Knowles, 24. Danny Richardson, 26. Jake Spedding, 28. Regan Grace, 32. Matty Lees, and 36. Zeb Taia.

Fash and Michaels to miss out for me.

Excellent to have a squad of that strength in week 2 of the Super 8s. Only Mini injured?

Pivotal game. Radders rightly going for it. Win this and we are in a strong position to finish in the Top 4 and would give us options to rotate the squad through the rest the Super 8's. Saints will be a tough game though.

Saints fan in peace.

One of the games of the 8s for me this, a real 4 pointer for both teams. If we (saints) win we go joint with you guys but if you guys win and Cas and Leeds beat Salford and Wakefield I think you pretty much secure 3rd spot.

Tough to call as you guys are in a good run at mo just as we are but we have not lost at home in over 5 months and beaten you the last 2 times out so I am going for a 20-14 to the Saints.

dry night fancy our chances

wet night saints win

... looks like a saints win then. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2638785?day=0

... looks like a saints win then. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2638785?day=0

We actually weren't in a good run at all. We had been really poor for a few weeks and turned it on against Leeds, and last week we just did what we needed to do. We seem to have a knack of really turning it on when it matters though, and there's no doubt this is a pivotal game. Couple that with your current form and we should have a great game on.

Quote ="ccs"... looks like a saints win then. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2638785?day=0'" ..or maybe not, weather forecasts nowadays seem to be getting less reliable.

Quote ="ccs"... looks like a saints win then. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2638785?day=0'" ..or maybe not, weather forecasts nowadays seem to be getting less reliable.

I think we'll sneak this one.

I can assure you it always rains in St Helens

Picked up some tickets from club shop at lunchtime, looking forward to what should be a cracking game.

With Leeds losing last night, 2nd place is now a very good possibility! Tonight is very important. If we win, I think we will get 2nd by the end of the Super 8's. Lose, and it will be a struggle for a few weeks to qualify for the 4

Think the cup distraction will do for us personally. Compared to Saints we've had to get up for 2 enormous games in the cup, with a further major final to come while they've been resting up exclusively for the top 4 push; this puts us at a serious disadvantage over the 8s. A result away tonight would be fantastic but will be incredibly difficult to achieve given Saints form IMO. Chester is inspiring Wakefield to brilliance too, got to be a candidate for SL coach of the year with limited resources, places 2-4 are going to be a bunfight.

If this were last year I would agree with you, but I would hope that the experience of last year will stand them in good stead and there is not longer the cloud of not winning at Wembley hovering over the players.

ideally we should go all out to win all games, but I would understand the management team protecting players for the final the week before (Hudds game next week). Win tonight and realistically 2nd is in our sites given Leeds loss at Wakey.

Win tonight and we have one foot in the top 4. Would probably leave us needing one more win. Lose and there is still an awful lot of work to do.

Agreed but again the cup run puts us at a disadvantage playing Leeds on a 5 day turnaround after Wembley. I wouldn't trade another Wembley final for anything, but likely consequences on the league are significant.