Very much an outside chance, but wire have 3 difficult games ( Catalan (a), Wigan (h), Hull FC (a) ) with all the injuries it looks like they suffered at the weekend they could be under strength in france, and its a hard enough place to go as it is, they lose that theyve got wigan... and then hull away could be a dangerous game as hull may have to win to get in the playoffs and have some decent players , very much wishful thinking, but if we can beat Hull KR, Salford and Quins we may not be far off come the 10th of september, thoughts ?

It is good that I'm here to balance out the delirious optimism on here. Wire have more difficult games but need to lose them. I think us losing to Hull KR away is more likely than Warrington losing to Catalans who are without Dureau. Their game at home to the Goons is a week after Wembley and Wigan will be emotionally and physically drained and ripe for a beating. Briers is meant to be back for them this week too which will reduce the impact of their few injuries.

if wire lost this weekend and we win the pressure is on them , we have had countless injuries and all season it has been wigan and warrington for old trafford(not saying it won't be if we finish second) but if we could nick second spot on the last game it has to be a blow for warrington going into the play offs, i understand its extremely unlikely but stranger things have happened, have they not ?

we are 3rd and will stay 3rd.
grand final will once again be SAINTS v Pies.

to get to the GF we will have to:

a) beat Wire/Wigan away, then beat one of them at home; or
b) lose against Wire/Wigan away, then beat AN Other team, then beat Wire/Wigan away.

Either way, we will have to beat either Wigan or Warrington at least once (and away from home), which is something we have failed to do on numerous occasions this year.

Lets face it. You're not winning anything this year. But, with you're promising youngsters, and maybe a few more signings, you have a strong chance next year.

I wouldnt be counting my chickens just yet bluenose - whilst I agree that it is unlikely (and think 2nd place is already out of reach), all it would take is for Saints to turn up and beat Wire in the first round of playoffs and then we would also get the week off. How many times did Leeds lose to Saints during regular season and playoffs then turn up GF night and beat us??

In games between Saints and Wigan anything can happen on the day (and the CCSF was a fantastic game that for me could have gone either way) and we still shouldnt be too fearful of Warrington given their past record against us and their previous playoff performances so wouldnt write us off totally just yet

Wigan have got the wood on us, I'm afraid. I reckon if we were to prevail in the playoffs, it would be because Wire knock Wigan out and then we shock them in the final.

Warrington are a more extreme team than wigan and while they have bags of power and pace, I think they would be an easier team to frustrate and outfox.

Indeed very much wishful thinking.

Won the last 7 in the league, we have lost 5 all season your asking alot for us to lose 3 on the spin.

Yes. Do think you could be awfully kind and oblige us?

But there is no advantage to Saints to come second instead of third. We don't have a 'home' ground anyway so what's the difference?

I'd like to say fans but we don't get Many of them turning up now, Warrington could probably bring 5000

I've been harping on about this run in for some time. But I think Wigan getting to the CC has put the kybosh on it. Also Catalan being pants last week reduces the odds further still.

Either way 2nd or 3rd we are going to be playing wire 2 times in the playoffs ( more than likely). Whether it's at home or away it's the same thing 80 minutes on a piece of grass.

I can't see Wigan optin for either Warrington or Saints, same goes for Wire if they nab top. There is no combination left that allows Saints to avoid Wigan or Wire in the final playoff game for old trafford.

So we know the challenge that lies before us the question is can we rise to it.

Personally i still think we should have taken Wigan in the semi last year. Wigan in a semi, at Saints would have been easier than Wigan in a final at OT.

Same could have been said about us with Leeds but which season was it when we did the double on them in the league, beat them in the play offs but lost to them at the Grand Final?

I think it's a bit premature to say that Wigan have the 'wood' on us.