Time to definitely rest a few players as we looked real tired in the last 15 minutes last night. Still desperate to go through to the last 16 though so time for the fringe players to play for their spots I think.

For me I'd line up something like this:

Ben Reynolds
Richie Owen
Ashley Gibson
Michael Channing
James Clare
Jamie Ellis
Liam Finn
Ryan Boyle
Adam Milner
Dan Fleming
Frankie Mariano
Oli Holmes
Nathan Massey

Marc Sneyd

Then decide on 3 forwards to play in the pack who want to give it ago who don't need a rest.
Still a very competitive squad which should get the job done while resting some players for the big Saints game 5 days later.

I'd give Finn a rest for this one a Championship opponent is more to Jamie Ellis' level too. Give Channing & Dorn a chance to show yesterday was a blip. Mix first teamers in because as much as the Challenge Cup is a needless distraction IMO we can't be losing to a lower league side again.

1. Owen/Clare
2. Clare/Owen
3. Shenton
4. Channing
5. Gibson
6. Dorn
7. Ellis
8. Boyle
9. Milner
10. Fleming
11. Holmes
12. Mariano
13. Hauraki

14. Clark
15. Massey
16. Day
17. Huby

Enough experience & fire power there and a strong bench just in case things get a bit too close for comfort.

We are playing a John Kear side in the challenge cup, I'd rest nobody especially after a 10 day rest until our next game. It's still early season no players should need a rest. Make sure of the win first and foremost. I'd go....

Dorn
Clare
Channing
Shenny
Carney
Finn
Sneyd
Lynch
Clark
Huby
Holmes
Hauraki
Millington

Mariano
Boyle
Milner
Massey

Why put the best players in danger by playing in a pointless competition? Challenge Cup is just extra games that aren't needed.

It's a 5 days between the Batley game and the Saints game. In fact - Cas have 4 games in 15 days (one game every 3 and a bit days) starting with Batley now is the time to rest players to prevent burn out over the ridiculous Easter schedule.

The challenge cup is a pointless comp ??? Since when ?? It's one of only 2 pieces of silverware on offer and the only realistic one for us to win, what's the point in having a club if you don't try and win trophies ??? Ridiculous comment.

7 days between saints at home and wakey away is enough time for players to recover, every other clubs players manage it.

3 pieces of silverware, the fact attendances for cup games being on a massive down turn shows I'm not the only one who doesn't care about it. It's needless extra games for players who already play too much.



Every other team will also be rotating squads around, it's what you do when you have a squad - use it unless you want everyone burnt out and want to miss out on the playoffs because everyone is either burnt out our injured?

Over 70000 fans attended the final last year, nobody there at all. You don't want Cas in a final attended by that many people with some silverware on offer ??? Strange.

Burnt out ??? 7 games into the season with only 2 games in the next 15 days ??? 3 games in 22 days ???please, give over

I can't spake!

Not sure its a pointless comp.
In SL theres only 2 trophies to play for.
No way will we win a grand final, our only chance of a trophy is the CC

I love the Challenge Cup and given the draw this year where there is 5 all S.L ties in this coming round we could get to Wembley if we continue to play well, have some luck and steer clear of injuries.

I would however like to see one of either Huby or Lynch is rested, and start Millington on the bench.

No need to make drastic changes just rotate a few players as Powell has been doing up to press.

The benefit of us having by far the strongest squad we've had in years is we can switch players around without weakening the side much.

I'd strongly recommend resting one of Huby or Lynch, or maybe both. They've probably done more work than any other players so far and we've got the players to come in and do good enough job to beat a championship side.

Any idea as to how many tickets you guys have sold for the game thus far?

When I went to get my tickets today we had sold 800, These are to season ticket holders only as they are not on sale to the general public until Monday.

Heard cas were getting 3500 tickets.
Getting mine Monday.

What a ridiculous statement. How is the Challenge Cup a pointless competition? We should be playing our best side with a view to getting to the latter stages and hopefully the final. We should give Batley the respect they deserve and put a strong team out.