Me and my Eldest going as my wife is ill bless her. Driving down early as my Niece is playing for Leeds in game 1. Will just have to sit through the CC game waiting for the main event.

Got a sneaky feel JK MAY be on the bench?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/halifax ... 661415088/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/halifax ... 661415088/

Team wise I just posted my thoughts about JK in the other thread but the team picks itself. Pickersgill, Walmsley, Maizen, McComb, Salty, JWH, Jouffret, Murray, AOB, Calcott, Kav, Gee, Fairbank Bench - Tangata, Moore, Lannon, Larroyer

One or two decisions to make in there. Presuming from Dan Fleming's cameo on Sunday that he won't be playing and will be the unlucky one to miss out. Does Grix start with Moore or AOB, obviously we lose a lot in the pack when Grix feels the need to keep Moore on the pitch when AOB is at hooker and we can't afford to get out muscled by the big Batley pack. The other question for me would be Larroyer who I don't think has performed but I would pick him over Fleming just from a fitness point of view and Larroyer offering more minutes.

Really don't understand what Moore brings when kept on in a non-hooking role....won't happen but I would have Inman on bench instead on the big Wembley pitch on a hot day and he's better cover at half back if needed.

After Sunday, I expect that will be the line up. Toss up between Tibbs and McComb for replacement for Crooks, but i'd think he'll go with McComb on this years performances. Re Moore, the thing is he will keep tackling the full 80.The other thing we often do when both hookers are on, one goes in as first receiver, i suspect the aim being our halves getting better ball out wide to attack in more space.

Exactly what Gizempo says, he does tackle his heart out which is probably the reason along with him been captain but again just my opinion although he does tackle a lot he gets dominated in a lot of tackles and we simply can't afford that against Batley but when you think AOB could play the full 80 quite comfortably it does seem like Grix feels the need to find a spot for his captain. Top priority for the board has to be getting AOB signed up for the next couple of seasons even if it means letting Moore go to free cash.

I'm presuming Sutcliffe isn't eligible for this one then?

To be honest i haven't got a clue if he can play, and if he could he would probably be on the bench and then that would be harsh on who gets left out.

Being nice doesn't win trophies. I'd have Sutcliffe in for Larroyer and Inman for Moore. That, apart from Keyes, would just about be our strongest 17. Up The Fax!

I know we have not seen anything mentioned about it by Fax but given he played in the same round of the cup as AOB we have to assume that he is not cup tied and allowed to play. The only rule that might be in place to stop him would be one where he requires an appearence before the final to be eligable to play. Agreed if we could I would go with him over Larroyer.

For the maybe / possibly department.

The Keyes could be couldn’t he, maybe just all part of a cunning plan to keep Batley guessing and having to double up on their prep.

I do like your ruthless side and you are right there is no place for being nice when it comes to team selection. I would be interested to know how we would use Sutcliffe if we was to drop a middle to have him in the team.

I'd say Keyes is probably the least likely to spring a selection shock but you could see Sutcliffe coming in at centre if he's able to play. Maybe that has been why there has been so little mention of him last week and in the build up to this as they try to keep selection choices close to their chest. You can bet that Batley have a lot better idea than us as to who will be playing especially with the links between certain players.

I have to disagree about Sutcliffe - if a player who's played for Fax for years and has helped us to get to the final gets replaced by a player with one game on loan then don't think that would do a lot for team moral. A few players surprised me on Sunday in what was our best performance of the season, and did enough to support making only minimal changes to rhe team on Saturday - even if the "talismanic" Keyes was fit - which he won't be. Even though I think Inman will be great for us in future, I'd play Brandon but start with O'brien as Moore was much more effective coming of the bench. Fairbank for Larroyer and McComb for Crooks would be my only changes.