If you look at who is in the middle 8's, 6 clubs expect to be in the top 4.

Hull KR
Widnes
Salford
Wakefield
Bradford
Leigh

With Sheffield and Halifax thinking they'll have a good go but just enjoy the ride. There's going to be some clubs that are extremely disappointed. I see Wakey going but who do you pick out of the other 5 to go with them? Tough.

Whilst Sheffield and 'Fax are everyones' favourites for 7th and 8th places, they are more than capable of upsetting at least one applecart - including Leigh and Bradford. Dismiss them at your peril!

Halifax are a team in form - think they've won eight in a row and they complete their sets well. Murrell guides them around the park nicely.

Sheffield are similar in that they complete sets well. They beat us recently but weren't brilliant. It was more of an off day from Bradford.

Leigh have taken 2 SL scalps already this season and are a very confident side as a result. They will be strong at home especially and the whole club is buzzing at the moment.

As for Bradford, we've been poor in the last few months and we've been doing the bare minimum to get by and get results. Our performance in the draw against Leigh at the weekend was our best performance for several months and we did without our two best players. I'm a lot more optimistic about our chances now than I was a few weeks ago.

I don't think Salford will finish any lower than fifth, but I wouldn't be surprised if they found themselves in the Million Pound Game.

The latest odds for the Middle 8s


Hull K R 1/6
Widnes 1/3
Salford 1/2
Wakefield 6/4
Leigh 7/4
Bradford 9/2
Sheffield 20
Halifax 28

Basically it means that the odds suggest that Salford will finish 3rd and the Million Pound game will be Wakey v Leigh

Hull KR & Widnes will survive, Salford 'should do' but the weakest link is Wakefield, yes they have a proper coach, but a lot of new players added to a struggling squad.
I would be very surprised if Salford don't regain their SL status.

The same bookmakers had us favourites to finish top 6 in Super League at the start of the season...

I just have a feeling that the £million game will be contested between 2 super league teams. whatever happens i think the middle 8's will be far more exciting than the super 8's

Well you have won then Neil - as Wigan have finished 3rd.

You may have enough moolah now to buy a Salford Season ticket without having to rely on your free press badge.

I agree Alan, I certainly don't want to disrespect clubs like Sheffield and Fax, that 'SL big boys club' used to annoy me when we were in the Championship. I just think over the course of 7 games they'll both filter out. That's the challenge for anyone in the Championship as I think Hull KR are unlucky to not be in the top 8 and Salford on their day are still a very good side.

Will be an exciting few weeks.

Fax are on a run of 8 wins on the trot. Things may well come crashing down this weekend against the Bulls, but winning is a good habit to have, and Fax are a far better side (albeit with largely the same players) than the one that lost against Wakefield in the cup.

My expectations have been surpassed this season just by being in the middle 8's, and although I'd be disappointed to lose against Sheffield, I do realise that the odds favour a loss in every other game. However, this is sport, and who knows what will happen?

3 wins for any team will almost certainly get them into the "million pound" game.

The threat of relegation is real so naturally there has to be a concern.

I'm more excited than worried though. Really looking forward to competitive games with a lot at stake against good teams. Imagine the one up one down format. Wakefield would already be doomed and the only unpredictable thing for a Salford fan would be wondering what our chairman would tweet next.

Oh, and Halifax away please.

Agreed Halifax awayis a desire. Looking at the very probable fixtures, it follows that Leigh away is guaranteed (not bad pubs at least) but we'll miss out on the Wakefield pubs. As Sheffield sadly do not play there and Bradford's ampitheatre is a distance from the good pubs in the centre, we do need a real ale visit. Hey ho.