I'm beginning to get the feeling this season, that while everyone else makes an extra effort when they face us, we seem to put in an extra effort against teams which we perceive as being challengers to us. Also we are putting extra effort into maintaining "Fortress Odsal" in the league. This is why we have had a few dodgy away wins. If this attitude is real, then we are going to become unstuck at some point.

I do think that our form will improve through the season though.

I do think that our defensive display will be much better on Sunday, at home, vs the 3rd place team for the reasons above. Whilst a nilling is unlikely, I wouldn't be surprised if we kept Sheffield to a single digit scoreline.

I think that after playing Hull Kingston Rovers the week before, the players struggled to get motivated for the Doncaster game. They probably knew in the back of their minds that they could outscore the opposition so didn't really bother concentrating in defence. I wasn't at Doncaster so it's hard for me to judge, but it seemed that way looking at the score-line and having seen the tries on Bulls TV.

I'm hoping we'll be up for the game on Sunday. Sheffield are a good side in this division and the players should hopefully give them a bit more respect than they did at Doncaster, and so our defence should be a bit more solid. I don't think we'll concede 38 again, anyway.

19 man for Sunday
Adam Henry, Adam O’Brien, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Alex Mellor, Dale Ferguson, Dan Fleming, Danny Addy, Danny Williams, Etu Uaisele, Epalahame Lauaki, Jake Mullaney, Jay Pitts, Lee Gaskell, Lucas Walshaw, Paul Clough, Ryan Shaw, Tom Olbison, Vila Halafihi

Bit light on the backs, heavy on the forwards. But I guess that's down to our current fitness situation.

FB: Shaw
W: Uaisele
C: Henry
C: Purtell
W: Williams
SO Gaskell
SH: Mullaney
PR: Sidlow
H: O'Brien
PR: Clough
SR: Olbison
SR: Pitts
LF: Addy

Subs: Ferguson, Lauaki, Fleming, Walshaw

I'd personally prefer to leave Addy at 7, move Shaw to the centres and have Mullaney at fullback. Drop Henry, who's been somewhere between average and awful so far this season.

I also think you have to start Ferguson after his performance last week, even if it means Olbison sitting on the bench.

Perhaps take Shaw out for the weekend and give the kicking duties to Gaskell. I'd maybe give Walshaw a run at centre too.

I'd be reluctant to tinker too much given that Sheffield are a much better side than many in our league.

Most definitely. Think they're going full time next season (hope so) with that and a new stadium, Sheffield could be the new Leigh. Definite promotion contenders next season.

Sunday will be our toughest game since Leigh. Need to be firing on all cilenders

I wouldn't change goal kicker, just in case it's tight, which wouldn't be a shock as the Eagles are a good side. Next best kicker seems to be Gaskell but, from the few games [was it just the one?] when he's kicked, he's nowhere near as reliable as Shaw has proved to be.

Agree with the earlier post about Henry, his form seems very up and down, he's not been one of our better centres. He seems to have fallen back from his better games, which were mostly last year, imo. Not fussed about whether we start with Fergie or Olbie, both will have a part to play and it matters little who walks out for the kick off - well, it matters little to the fans though I guess the players may feel differently!

noticed in t&a article that it mentioned who;s missing through injury and purtell, williams and lauaki returning. Yet there was no mention of mullaney. He was in squad last week and not selected with no mention as to why he missed out. he's in squad again yet no mention whether hes likely to play or not that I've seen. anyone know whether hes fit or not as he could have a big influence on tomorrows result.

Think with it being a ham string injurt he's coming back from, unless he is 100% fit, Jimmy won't pick him.

Mullaney is in the 19 so is in contention, what's in the T&A is just their best guess so we'll have to wait and see.

Well it's due to rain all night and most of tomorrow morning, so the pitch is going to be a boggy one.

At least it's [currently] forecast to be dry for the match itself, so let's hope that's the case. Sopping pitch won't help the game though, that is for sure.

Other than Matty Blythe we are probably able to field our strongest team today, providing Williams, Purtell, Mullaney and Luaki are actually fit to play - I haven't included Siejka in that calculation. We need to be making a big effort in defence and the attack can take care of itself.
Looking out of my windows there is a lot of water stood in the fields and it is still raining heavily. There is no sign of that changing. It could look a bit like Wembley in 68 by kickoff. Should we not win well I will become a little more concerned over our future prospects.

Local forecast still saying to dry up around midday and the sky certainly looks a bit lighter than it did earlier, here around 3 miles from Odsal, in [not so] sunny Tyersal. Definitely down to the odd spot now though.