Need to start quickly, we've been sluggish in a few games but managed to turn it around (apart from Toulouse when it went the other way), if we fall behind to london we will only fall further, hit them hard and fast in the opening 10-20mins and set our stall out earlier.

Thomas/Keyes should go well for us now we have a reasonably good pack, give Pryce a break if not 100%, agree its not make or break but we need some confidence going into the games before Easter which will define where we are as a team and give us hope of staying up.

When we last had Mendeika in the team he was woeful think it was our 1st season down, they dont seem to link well together, would caro/maccani as a partnership suit us better do you think?

Caro can certainly pass a ball, and both are big lads and have terrific pace, so a Caro/Maccani partnership might well be an option. I'd certainly give it a go, as I'd agree that Mendeika, whilst he's been steady away, certainly isn't breaking any pots.

You would expect:
Thomas
Macani
Mendeika
Oakes
Ryan
L Smith
Keyes
Roche
Moore
Magrin
Larroyer
Bentley
Jordan-Roberts
SUBS
Kirk
Murray
Halafihi
Oledzki

Unless Smith isn't match fit, in which case I'd think Thomas at 6 with Campbell at fullback.

From that I'd personally go with:

19. Johnny Campbell
2. Ethan Ryan
4. Ross Oakes
1. Lee Smith
5. Iliess Macani
14. Oscar Thomas
7. Joe Keyes
8. Liam Kirk
34. Scott Moore
15. Jon Magrin
20. James Bentley
16. Kevin Larroyer
11. Colton Roche

17. Ross Peltier
22. Daniel Murray
26. Vila Halafihi or 30. Josh Jordan-Roberts
31. Mikolaj Oledzki

Although I'd expect this:

Thomas, Ryan, Oakes, Mendeika, Macani, Smith, Keyes, Roche, Moore, Magrin, Larroyer, Bentley, JJR.

Kirk, Murray, Oledzki, Halafihi.

My preference would be the same starting 13 as Bulls Boy. I'd have 4 forwards on the bench.
Without Pryce and Lilley I think we need to keep it simple with Keyes and Thomas kicking for position rather than trying anything too fancy dan.
Oledzki has been very impressive and Murray looks a good prospect.Jordan Roberts has improved with each match and Peltier is a handful and can make an impact
So I'd leave out Halafihi and Mendieka.

LONDON 19

Ackers
Barthau
Bienek
Dixon
Evans
Garside
Gee
Harrison
Hellewell
Ioane
Kear
Offerdahl
Pewhairangi
Pitts
Purtell
Roqica
Sammut
Walker
Williams


Our hooker Ackers is seemingly fit and one of our best players last season, Pewhairangi, returns after 6 months out injured.

looks a strong squad that!

I'm expecting London to explode at some point and hit some real form. There's a lot of quality in that squad and to me are far and away the second best team in this competition, behind only KR.

Some class players there - Evans, Purtell, Pitts, Sammut; I know Jarrod is not everyones favourite but he's a cracking player when he's on-form; I just hope Sunday is one of his off days

Smith will be needed in the middle of the park going forward if we go with Keyes and Oscar at 6 & 7, so I would play him at 1 with Mendieka at 3. It will also help to keep the defensive line together with a player who has played FB a lot, actually playing FB.

With one of Leon or Lilley in the halves I would opt for Smith at 3, but not at the expense of balance and direction for this game.

Bienek is playing in the U19 game, so he can be taken out of the potential side. I'd assume the other one to miss out is going to be either Alex Walker or Rhys Williams (if Rhys isn't fit)

half of their squad is ex bradford

TEAMS

LONDON
Walker
Williams
Hellewell
Purtell
Kear
Sammut
Barthau
Ioane
Ackers
Roqica
Harrison
Garside
Pitts
SUBS
Dixon
Offerdahl
Evans
Gee

BRADFORD
Thomas
Macani
Mendeika
Oakes
Ryan
Smith
Keyes
Murray
Moore
Magrin
Larroyer
Jordan-Roberts
Bentley
SUBS
Kirk
Roche
Campbell
Oledzki

I can imagine a few on both sides trooping into the wrong 'donning oil'.