I would'nt pick Watkins this week tbh give him a full weeks training and then again next week before putting him in against Wire.
I don't think keinhorst has done too badly at all and although with so many injuries Widnes away may prove a more difficult game than it should we shouldn't rush him back.

Neither 4th or 5th are very good propositions, the way the league is shaping up.

Either way we're going to have to go somewhere tough (most likely Wigan), we've done it before, we can do it again. Some people on here have talked about wanting to avoid Wigan (we realistically can't if we're going to win the trophy), but, and they may not admit it, I would guess Wigan fans are hoping to avoid us more after what we've done the last 2 years to the League Leaders.....in fact all the other 7 teams will want to avoid us and hope that someone else can knock us out. The players of the other teams too, come the week of a potential playoff game vs Leeds will find it very hard to block out and not think about what we've done in previous years.

Pessimistic you lot, and yet I've been accused of that previously.

Still think we will get 2nd personally. We will finish above Huddersfield. 4th is already a given, so just Wire to be concerned about.

Would have Watkins back as soon as, yet I want players rested and others chances. I say this as we have no back up. Keinhorst simply is not good enough. Minns looked better on Sunday playing in the centres though, but Watkins is very hard to backup.

I will be pleasantly surprised if we make second spot, to do the grand final again is a tall order, entirely due to our injury list. Obviously with our top boys back we can beat anybody on a one off game.
Looking at last nights Wigan Wire match its going to be a huge task, I thought Wigan would not progress under wane, at the moment it looks like I may be proven wrong. Some of the Wigan passing is superb although I suspect it's probably the Harris hand at the tiller. As for wire they looked good, but the most impressive part of the game was the intensity. Both sides look miles ahead of the rest of the pack, and that includes the giants. They are a good side but most of the time it's brough inspired.
My main concern is once our main players are back, will the remaining matches be sufficient for them to regain full match fitness . It's going to be a very interesting end of season.

The current format is flawed - why would anyone want to finish 4th over 5th?

I would much much rather enter the mini tournament with a home-tie against a team who will have lost more than they won over the regular rounds while knowing with absolute certainty that the serious stuff starts now, win at all costs - no complacency, no second chances, lose and it's season over.

I really don't care who we face in the playoffs and judging by the last 2 years neither do the players, I say go to Wigan, beat them then a home tie away from the GF.

Leeds Playoff Record
2012 - beat LLS winners
2011 - beat LLS winners
2010 - beat LLS winners
2009 - Leeds LLS....beat 2nd place team
2008 - beat LLS winners
2007 - beat LLS winners
2006 - elimated 1st week vs Wire
2005 - beat LLS winners
2004 - Leeds LLS....beat 2nd place team

In 6 of the last 9 years we've beaten the LLS winners in the playoffs (4 times at opposition ground) whilst twice as LLS winners we've beaten the next highest ranked team. So that's 8 times in 9 seasons we've won playoff games vs the most (or 2nd most) consistant team in the competition.

It takes a great deal of positive thinking (or an awful lot of psychedelic drugs) to see Leeds finishing ahead of either Warrington or Huddersfield at the end of the regular season.

Or for that matter going to Wigan, Warrington or Huddersfield in the playoffs and coming away with the win.

Keinhorst has done a reasonable job really and is way ahead of Minns. After the Castleford game I would have thought him and Hall would have been kept as a partnership as he worked well off Hall, knowing exactly where he had to be to get the off loads back insidefrom the kicks..is not just luck to be there. Widnes..yes a bit off the pace, but he had a bug for 2/3 days before that game so can understand why. Looked solid v giants and the more he plays the better he'll be.

See him as a player similar to ablett when he first came through, nothing too flash but high work rate and great attitude. Ablett turned out alight, think Keinhorst will too.

Would keep Watkins side lined this week for a longer rest, Moon back in for Minns backs wise.

Of course you are Jimmy

Under this present flawed format the 1 V 4 fixture in week one has resulted in the following results:

2009 Leeds 44 - 8 Hull KR
2010 Wigan 26 - 27 Leeds
2011 Warrington 47 - 0 Huddersfield
2012 Wigan 46 - 6 Les Catalans

All fourth placed finishers seasons ended with their next match (all with home advantage), including the sole week one winner - Leeds. The other three never made it into the 'semis' which a fourth placed finish should equate to.

Perhaps year five will be different - then again ......

Possibly, Leeds are the only team to finish 1st under this format and win the GF without
losing a playoff game. They're also the reason why the last 3 LLS winners haven't matched that. And they're also the only 4th place team to win that opening game against 1st..........oh I forgot its the flawed format and not possibly the teams.......balllllllance