So there's one match to go before the CC Final and it's to "Bottom of the table" Quins (had Wakey & Cru not had 4 points deducted.)

Obviously, there's an argument to rest a few players, but in my opinion there's also an argument to build a bit of momentum and consistency.

Resting would be fine had we been in red hot form all season and everything was clicking every week. The fact is that it's not, and we're in desperate need of some momentum.

Both arguments have validity.

Do we play the Challenge Cup 17, with the intention of doing similar to Friday, building confidence, hitting form, and giving the fans a bit of hope on the way down?

Or do we rest key players to keep them fresher and hope that things gel more than they have been doing on Saturday week?

Anyone who's played the game knows that if you're not 100% committed to playing the game as hard and fast as you can then injuries are far more likely to happen.

Rest those with niggles. Otherwise go full strength.

Yup. Gotta go strong. Any question marks leave out. I'd also be happy with slight rotation as well. Pitts and McShane would bite your hand off for a game. Any question marks over anyone leave out. Simple.

But after the destruction of Cas I think our points difference is only 50 or so behind them. So we will need to pencil in big wins against Quins and Wakie, beat Huddersfield and hope they lose again in a last ditch effort to steal 4th from them. Busy end to a write-off season it seems!

After last year i would be temtpted to rest a few key players and grind out a win but as has been pointed out above momentum is massive in this sport and i agree with BB only rest those with niggles.

Yup. We're only 45 points behind Hudds. Although they have just as "easy" a run in as we do.

Huddersfield - Salford, Quins, Leeds.
Leeds - Quins, Wakefield, Huddersfield.

Last match of the season COULD be for 4th place (for the second year running!).


EDIT - I haven't forgotten about Catalans, but they have a far inferior points difference and also have Warrington to play yet. A Wire win, and us beating Quins would put us 5th.

Momentum and an on form winning streak would suggest to put a full strength squad out for the Quins game.

Rest any players that are carrying a knock but otherwise full steam ahead.

As kirkstaller mentioned, if your head and heart aren't in the game you are far more likely to pick up an injury, the lads need to treat the Quins game as (if not more) important than the final.

Agree with everyone else, any players carrying knocks or niggles that would benefit from a week off, rest, otherwise, pick the strongest team possible!

Yes, true. But this is the time of year Nathan Brown's bum-hole starts going 'twitch-twitch'. Anything can happen, apart from him winning anything of course.

Treat it like a normal game. No need to risk anyone with a slight knock, but we need to go into the final with a bit of confidence. If you do rest people, the ones who come in need to believe that they're playing for a Wembley spot too.

Harlequins game is a guaranteed win and a training run for Leeds against whipping boys and ought to be treated as such. That means playing the team the coach expects to be lining-up at Wembley the following week.

Rest players with niggles and give Sinfield a week off.

Friday was the first time in a long time that Leeds looked like a side playing with belief and confidence.

There's absolutely nothing to be gained from messing around with the line-up or structure ahead of the final.

I'd be going one step further if I were in Leeds's shoes, and treating this whole week as a rehearsal for the final itself. Travel down at the same time you are going to next week, stay in the same hotel, work to the same schedule (particularly given the Quins game is also a Saturday afternoon kick-off). Preparing in this way and hopefully backing it up with a convincing performance will be ideal preparation for the weekend after IMO.

That's an excellent idea! Very impressed. Wouldn't have thought of that in a million years.

They could even do a walk around of the Stoop.

I'd be shocked if that happens, but it's a great idea and taking full advantage of the circumstances (London team, Sat pm kick off etc).

I'd have been seriously tempted to stay down there the full week and use some local training facilities. That way you can get used to the warmer climate and shake off any tricky jet lag. It could be a significant advantage in the final. By my calculations, given that the current time in London is 14:42, 15th August 2011, and assuming each time zone is 1 hour of time difference, Wigan will need to travel through 245,422 time zones to get there.

After watching them on sky a few teams recently i thinked that started to happen 2 months ago.