I would have this as a "really can't afford to lose" than a must win. If we lose this then that's 4 in a row with Widnes and Leigh to come. With the league so tight we could find ourselves suddenly in the relegation zone. Fans become restless and the wheels start to come off etc

Batley have been poor. I've been banging on all season we need to come out and not have so much respect for the opposition. Come out and lay a marker down like York do. We start off slow, inevitably their crowd and players lift and make things difficult for ourselves. I really want us to have an attitide of "we're going to put a score on you today"

I know George likes to get everyone gee'd up but for me he should have a little sit down this week...

100% agree
I said in the off season i thought we.needed 2 new hookers. I still stand by that comment.
Widie has done ok but George has looked way out of his depth so far. Im not sure if a week off will give him a kick up the backside or if hes just not up to it in this.league. i sincerely hope its the former as id love to see him playing well

Flanagan certainly hasn’t been playing well for several weeks and maybe is due a rest but that means Hallas/Wildie sharing the hooking duties. Considering Lilley is back who partners him in the halfbacks if you move Wildie to hooker? AFAIK Chisholm is doubtful and Milnes and Keyes are still injured.

Flanagan had a good game in the Yorkshire Cup final vs Batley (despite the yellow card) as he completely distracted the dafter Batley forwards from playing rugby. Do we keep him in for that purpose again?

I notice Wilson came through the U19s game ok. Do we go large on the bench with him and Bustin to give us a bit more go forward? I certainly would.

Elsewhere do you give Pickersgill another chance to find a bit of form? He had a bit of a mare last week.

Ryan at FB and Pickersgill at 6 would be the best option for me.

It's going to be Lilley and Wildie in the halfbacks.

Probably better than last week, but it's still not looking good.

I'm not looking forward to this Sunday at all.

I think it’ll be like last time and we’ll just scrape a win. Remember we had Milnes and Lilley in the YC final and Milnes went off after halftime so we finished with the same halfbacks. Bustin coming back adds a fair bit more power up front for us. Batley have been poor lately and don’t seem to be a happy bunch under Diskin.

Pickersgill, Evans, Gibson, Webster, Ryan, Lilley, Wildie, Crossley, Hallas, Kirk, Garside, Farrell, Wood. Subs - Flanagan, Bustin, Green, Storton.

Is it time for AC's 'team talk' yet?

I can see it now… “Batley is a poophole and their players are all a bunch of softies. I hate Super League.”

Is that along the right lines?

You forgot the mandatory swipe at Neil Hudgell.

Think the squad picks itself.

Pickersgill
Evans
Gibson
Webster
Ryan
Lilley
Wildie
Kirk
Hallas
Crossley
Farrell
Garside
Wood

Flanagan
Green
Bustin
Storton

Decent squad that for the slug fest it will BE. Hope Kear doesn't have another selection implosion and have 1 prop on bench with a centre.

The Batley chairman is one of Chalmers closest allies. I think they’ll coordinate their swipe at Hudgell....

I’d be tempted to put Pickersgill at 6 in attack but 1 in defence like we used to do with Brett Kearney.