So if the table standings aren't to change.....

1) Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos
2) St Helens v Warrington Wolves

3) Hull FC v Castleford Tigers
4) Huddersfield Giants v Hull KR

Then what happens? Winners plays who, etc? In the top 4 we get a greater cushion as we can technically lose one or can we go as far as losing two and still make the GF?

If it goes to book

Wigan/Saints win and get a week off

Warrington would play lowest ranked winner of match 3 or 4
Leeds would play highest ranked winner of match 3 or 4

Wigan then pick the winner of one of those 2 matches to play for place in final
Saints play the other

Final

Following on from the above, Warrington and Leeds would play at home in the second week and then away in the 3rd week.

We are guarenteed two play-off games (maybe 3). We are guaranteed 1 home game (maybe 2).

We could lose in week 1 and still make the final but ANY loss after week one means you are out. Only the losers of games 3 and 4 are OUT completely in week 1

So we 'could', beat Saints in the first game, they win the next one, and we could play them again for a place in the Final ?
Crikey, they would be two very bruising, not to mention mentally tough games....and thats just for us supporters..

Or they could win the first, we win the second and then we play them for a place in the final. the only thing different would be the venue of the week 3 clash.

OR, you beat Saints, we beat Wigan, you get the club call between the winners of week 2

The Aussie system works similar to this and the "second chance" is deceptive because like you say, it only counts for teams who lose in the first week of the playoffs. There's been a few teams in Australia who have been consistent all year, then won their first playoff game and had a week off, then had the bad luck to have their 'off day' in the second playoff which then spells curtains. While you get other teams who lost their first playoff game but had finished in the top four so got their second chance, and came out for the rest of the playoffs determined to make the most of it.

Basically, we can get to Old Trafford by winning two play off matches. That's it.

Wigan!

is the obvious answer. And when we lose, everyone crows how arrogant Tony Smith was etc etc....

Hold on a second.. so if we end up 3rd and play Saints away in week 1, and win, we would then have a week off and play the winners of Saints v whoever in round 3 but because we won away in game one against the higher placed team, we would then be at the HJ for the next game? Or is that just in the event that Saints also lose their second game?

Confused.

Does anyone know the dates of the play-offs?

Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th. Provisionally we're playing on the Saturday but with Wigan Athletic playing at home on the Saturday we MAY get bumped up to the Friday.