So let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly. Wigan - already missing three forwards with injury - having three more suspended gives Leeds less chance of winning? Positively Swiftcornesque logic. Sounds like a Leeds fan getting their excuses in early.

Should be a very interesting game... Leeds are still a dangerous team, and we are having to play a weaker pack. Can't wait...

Sounds like a Leeds fan who knows Leeds only too well, I fear.

Think the backs will more than likely line up as follows -
Webb
Smith, Ablett, Hardaker, Hall
Sinfield, McGuire

Ablett to be on that side to match up against Carmont even though we know this means a lack of ball for Hall in attack.

In the forwards it all depends on who he picks at loose. JJB, Hauraki and Clarkson (has been poor coming off the bench this season so maybe a return to starting loose like last year might see an improvement?) are all options but given the opposition it should definately be Bailey against Wigan.
P.S. No it WON'T be Sinfield with Burrow starting in the halves.

Leuluai, Lunt, Peacock
JJB, Delaney
Bailey

SUBS - Burrow, Moore, Hauraki, Griffin

But this being McDermott it wouldn't surprise me to see him go back to Burrow starting with Lunt on the bench. I hope not but i'm half expecting it.

Leeds have the edge in personnel due to Wigan's depleted forwards options i think, but they've still got Finch and Tommy Leuluai to run things and we have to be smart when we are kicking from our own half (which i suspect based on our last few performances we might have to do quite a bit of), aim for Gelling to bring the ball back because i don't want to see Charnley or Tomkins running it back at us with a bit of open field.

Kicking to Gelling may not be good option, he has really good stats for his kick returns and metres made.

That may be true, but I'd still choose to kick deep to him rather than Charnley or Tomkins. I'd also switch Hall to right wing for the game (he was more than ok there for England) to attack Gelling, because he looks so exploitable as a winger.

Which one of Tomkins, Charnley and Gelling do you least want taking that first carry on tackle two? My vote would be with Charnley on that one, so that's where Leeds should be kicking. Let the wingers bring the ball back and be disciplined with the chase. Make Tomkins have to play against a set defensive line rather than in broken field.

Darn you Gilder, that almost sounds like a gameplan and has no place at the Rhinos these days. You just don't play by the rules do you....

Yeah it more of a compliment to Tomkins and Charnley than a disrespect to Gelling who to be honest i haven't see loads of as yet.

Either way we have to put good kicks in down field. You can be facing a team with a depleted forward pack but any team will struggle to beat them if you allow them to start sets up near their own 40m line or better, and if we kick it straight into the hands of Tomkins and Charnley that is what could happen.

Missed who?

Looking forward to this will take my mind off the lufc takeover saga

2 big X-factors that could decide it. One unfortunately being that we've been lumbered with James Child as referee so its almost certain that the game won't be as good as it could of been. Secondly how well Charnley does with his goal kicking on the night, i saw him land one from the touchline against Saints so he can obviously kick but i think it would be fair to say he doesn't have the consistency of a Pat Richards. In what i think will be a tight game one missed conversion could prove to be the difference.