clearwing - that's almost my take as well. If those players mentioned (they're probably the only ones who could break into the side injuries apart) can't or don't step up now until the end of the year, you'd have to ask questions about their long-term positions at the club.

That doesn't mean BM has to pick them if we get to the GF, but they ought to be making his decision bloody hard.

I'm sure that Wigan (in this situation), knowing that the play offs are a certainty would concentrate on being up for that first round match. Remember it's another knock out comp so we should treat it just like the CC and use the remaining league matches to peak for the play offs.

So, after last nights events.......

We need to beat wigan and hull now and hope that's enough to get 3rd/4th. We get 3rd or 4th and we 'most likely' play either saints (key players out) or cas (not very playoff experienced) with a win giving us a week off and the home tie into the final.

That has to be the passage we aim for now.

Of course anywhere below 4th wouldn't be the end of the world but we'd have to go week in week out and go away from home in the final semi. Yes we've done it before, but it's bloody hard and we must surely want the ''easier'' passage.

Wigan will be thinking the same. Both teams will fancy it if they can get 3rd or 4th.

Not so sure myself, Flex. While I'm not expecting a damp squib of a game next week, I wouldn't be surprised to see the odd familiar face missing from both sides and the intensity perhaps a little short of the 100% I'd have expected had both teams won last night.