Well, that's the reward that your able to achieve when you are light years ahead in a league season and not desperate for form or points.

If Hull can't take advantage of that line up with a near full squad and needing the points then they don't deserve a play off berth.

Should really be Hull and Saints cruising this weekend with what is on the line for them as opposed to the their opposition. Wigan missed the boat on Sunday

Hull have looked to be running on empty the last few times i've seen them.

Last week they were appalling in the first half and Wakefield should have been light years ahead but like against Saints they tried to shut up shop with far too long to go. Preceeded by a loss against a poor Wigan side in not great form, and relatively comfortable losses against us and huddersfield either side of the cup final.

We have beaten them 3 of 4 times this year, 2 relatively easily, but were completely outclassed in the semi.

They almost beat Wigan with 12 men.

Hull seem to be learning to peak when it matters. in the cup anyway, and that is a good trait to learn. We will see if they have learnt from last years experience of the play offs for this year from this weekend now where it is virtual sudden death from this Cas away game onwards. I expect they will win, and it will be a very tough task for us against them in the Semi.

my new contracts manager is related to a hull player. he said they were 'bloody lucky' to beat wakefield and they haven't much left in the tank

That will not happen now Cas have dropped 6 players for the game

Cas clearly want Hull to finish 3rd and Saints 4th. Can't really blame them, Saints have looked average at best.

True and you can't fault their effort against us so soon after the cup final. Admirable efforts post Wembley but those 2 games plus Wembley and plus having to claw their way to victory over Wakey I think they won't have enough left in them.

Cas' squad this week improves Hull's chances but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a close game.

Hull clearly have a huge confidence in the cup nowadays from finally winning at Wembley last year but still a big question mark if that translates to the playoffs. Leeds and Warrington around 2009-2012 had differing successes in both competitions, they could nail one but not the other.

Mr Powell is not overly keen on Mr Wane,. Cas may still have too much for Hull though if they get a fair share of ball. Funny old year though, trying to predict anything this year is a lottery

Saints are a different proposition now they have dumped that useless lump of lard at 7, put Barba at FB & Lomax & that young kid in the halves.

That's the key issue for Saints chances for me. Does he know his best combination yet? It's been four different HB pairings in the last 4 games. Smith with both Lomax and Fages, then Fages & Richardson vs Wakey and then Lomax & Richardson.

Smith seems to be out of the picture now but might he get back in if the halves produce an iffy showing vs Salford? Will he go Fages & Richardson with Lomax at centre like the Wakey game or Lomax in the halves with Richardson....or with Fages???

Really not sure who I want in this, Hull and Wigan have not beat us at Headingly in ages, but both know how to turn up in big games.

Saints have a bad record against us in the playoffs but ran us close at home very recently and we struggle to stop their pack.

Wakey would be rank underdogs if they somehow got into the playoffs but they are the only one of these four to beat us since the super 8s started.

ToLomax out with a hamstring tonight so revert back to Fages & Richardson halves and Smith on the bench. Not being able to get any consistency in selection with their halves could undue them in the playoffs.

Leeds Rhinos v St Helens currently

Wouldn't mind if we do face them, were making tough work of tonight before the red card and may have even slipped up had it stayed 13 vs13