This isn't a "have you played" esq post because a) I don't know if you have and b) I never played super league standard but when I was playing I wanted to play. A week off was crap and disturbed my rhythm. I get a mid season break from being bashed about for 16 weeks but for now I'd go full strength to ensure squad cohesion. Of course injuries are a risk but with the play off a single digit week away, I'd be be going for system over cotton wool.

As an aside,. I'd have Holroyd over Bateman any day of the week, even if the latter was a mate and had played with my brother's at junior level and me at international.

It’s a fair point (and yes, but not SL), but should we finish 3rd or lower, the main rivals will have a week off in round 1 of the play offs anyway, so whoever you play in round 2 (if we win the first game) is coming off a week off. That is why I suggested playing full strength against London, to get that timing and rhythm back. Particularly if we end up playing Salford who challenge on both sides of the field with lots of ball movement.

The risk is that Saints and Wigan arrive at the play offs with a large part of their squad fresh having lots of injuries and suspensions, and we have Dufty who has played all but 35 minutes (and a bit of time in the bin) of the season.

On Bateman, if he can get near his best he plays. But last week he wasn’t near that level. But he can change games when he’s on. And he’s been there and knows what it takes, which might count in his favour for a naive squad.

I think Wigan are only really missing French and Smith, aren't they? Their losses haven't been down to lack of first team players, more a slump in form as they don't seem to fire in attack without French.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Saints though. Their poor form started when they had a full team with the likes of Welsby, Lomax, Percival, Clark et al, but as you say those guys will be fully rested after their injury layoffs. They could finish sixth and then peak for the last 3 games.

The thing about Saints is that who ver plays Wellens will still be the coach which is a silver lining for any opposition.

They have been with it O’Neil too, who is their first choice 9. And Leeming missed a big part of the middle of the season, some through selection. Cooper, although getting on, started at Wembley and has been missing a lot since with ongoing concussion issues. And Keighran missed a bit through suspension then injuries straight after his return. They’ll have fresh legs at 1, 6, 7 and 9. And have a habit of rotating the middles anyway, with Mago not down to play yesterday until Farrell pulled out. They’re still the team to beat, and we need to be at our near our best to beat them in big games.

I thought he looked a lot better yesterday....solid in defence and a great off-load for Dufty's last try.

HKR have a 38 point points difference on us now. Now as it stands if we win all our remaining games and HKR and Wigan win their games the game when HKR go to Wigan could be massive in terms of our top 2 ambitions . A Wigan win we need a big points swing an HKR win we go 2nd. All kind of exciting right now.

We both have Saints coming up….good chance for both sides to really boost their points difference.

You will win all your games.
Wigan and HKR are capable of winning theirs too.
The LLS will be decided in the Wigan v HKR game at Wigan.
Either side could win that.
French could well be back by then, Smith's last match on the ban is v Catalans the previous week to HKR.
Wire could possibly get 2nd with whoever loses the Wigan HKR game going to 3rd.

Second must be the aim now. Can't see the other two slipping up, and third would mean a home game against possibly Salford, which would be a sticky wicket. They're the sort of side to knock you out and then just collapse as they get deeper into the playoffs. Avoid at all costs.

3rd is not a good position to finish - will be playing Leigh, Salford, Catalans or Saints - any of them in decent form and we’re in trouble.

Can’t see us winning ALL of our games. Leigh away will be very tough. If we do win them all we’ll finish second, lose to Leigh and it’s the dreaded 3rd.

Leigh(Away) will be a very tough game, but that is the type of game we need to win, to lift the trophy at Old Trafford.

Exactly if we can't win games like that we are not going to win a GF.

I am very nervous though as don't think I can bare to watch us lose a 5th GF in person.

Been to the 4 losses and I would be devastated if I was not there to see us win one. Hate Old Trafford with a passion it’s a complete dump, much easier to watch at home but not the same if we won it.

I too think Old Trafford was crap with cramped seating until I went to our Magic Game, at Elland Road on Saturday which was far worse.

Absolutely NO leg room, and I had to sit side on, using two seats, otherwise I would have needed to watch the game standing.