Wire squad: Matty Ashton, Daryl Clark, Ben Currie, Josh Drinkwater, Matt Dufty, Lucas Green, James Harrison, Leon Hayes, Sam Kasiano, Josh Lynch, Peter Mata'utia, Josh McGuire, Greg Minikin, Matty Nicholson, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Russell, Josh Thewlis, Luke Thomas, Danny Walker, Tom Whitehead, George Williams

So looks like not decided to appeal Vaughan’s ban.

Nice to see Harrison included but pleas don’t have Kasiano starting prop it does not work.

Dufty
Russell
Minikin
Ratchford
Ashton
Williams
Drinkwater
Harrison
Walker
McGuire
Currie
Nicholson
Mata’utia

Clark
Kasiano
Green
Thomas

i was thinking last night about thursdays selection and performance, i've seen understrength teams in the past put on weird over achieving performances and beat the odds, i think with our team selection/bench last week, we were trying to play a game plan that we didn't have the recruits for.

Personally i'd be happy to go with two young props on the bench, they might be undersized for how we normally play, but set us up with the mindset that we're not going to outmuscle out opponents this week, we're going to try and outwork them. dont try and play our normal game with 13 players, lets adapt.

i'd go with that team that karetaker has posted.

Whatever team we put out we can't play the understrength card when Saints have no Knowles, Walmsley, Sironen, Matautia, Paasi and it's Batchelor's first game back for a while.

Be an interesting game, as long as everyone puts a shift in like they have all season then no complaints.

Tbh I don’t know why they never just let me pick the team

But joking aside we can’t have Kasiano as starting prop, I think a few of us were surprised he did not move Mata’utia to 13 last time.

I'm agreeing far too much with karetaker these days.
Must be something in the water!

If our defensive intensity mirrors Friday night then we will on a hiding to nothing

Yes I’d go with that, Russell to start certainly, we need his go forward, tough on Thewlis, but I think Russell on the wing for this one.

Just hope that if we put the youngsters on the bench they actually get fully utilised - not much point if we're going to go through the game predominantly rotating from just 15 players.

I sort of understand what you're saying.
We conceded 13 points, but had Wigan taken their chances it could have been 30.
But for me part of the reason they didn't score more was the defensive effort. We did enough through the likes of inside pressure to cause passes to be rushed, and the chance went begging.
I'm not too perturbed by the defensive work. I am concerned about the forwards play with so many props missing.

Both teams still have their 1,6,7,and 2 hookers available. Both missing some big fellas, both teams bring back a forward for their first game after a good 5-6 weeks out (Harrison and Batchelor). So it pretty much evens itself out I think.
No excuses for either team and the winner will be the team that competes the hardest. That has been the hallmark of this St Helen's side for a few years now so it will be interesting to see if we can match them.
Looks like both teams will have some young fellas trying to prove a point.
8 from 10 is still pretty decent but 9 from 10 would be nice.

Vaughan - Missing
Clarke - Playing
Harrison - Playing
Currie - Playing
Nicholson - Playing
Maguire - Playing

Kasiano - Playing
Walker - Playing
Philbin - Missing
Dudson - Missing

vs

Walmsley - Missing
Roby - Playing
Lees - Playing
Sironen - Missing
Batchelor - Playing
Knowles - Missing

Paasi - Missing
Mata'utia - Missing
Lussick - Playing
LMS - Playing

Those seem to be the packs and benches. You're missing 3, we're missing 5. If anything I think the front row is quite similar, your Vaughan and Dudson vs our Walmsley and Paasi. I think the backrow you have the advantage, with us missing three of ours and you none, apologies if I've missed anyone who would actually play if at full strength.

I think you take it on form and overall sharpness this season. Your pack will edge it and your backs are a lot faster than ours. We'll need our best performance of the season to win it.