The nature of time and space means nobody knows how either team is going to perform yet. Damn laws of the universe.

However I'm expecting to see the Saints of my nightmares. The only good thing about Saints continually ripping out our beating heart and showing it to us before we die is that you get used to it. Like that scene in Bond with the knotted rope - sure, it hurts, but you get used to it.

Absolutely no poignancy about our (possible) last visit to KR. Looking forward to the trips to widnes for the next couple of years.

In the world cup, Gardener was undone by the high ball everytime

I was surprised last season that he wasn't targetted more than he was

I am sure Atkins and Kingy will be breathing down his neck on Friday night

Perhaps the highlights didn't show any offloads that came to nothing?

We look like we might be close to full strength for the weekend, with Puletua and Wellens definitely back and Gidley/Soliola being monitored.

Young Lomax is out which is a blow, but at least Gardner is fit again to replace him.

If the bodies are back I'd like to see:

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Wheeler
Meli
Pryce
Eastmond
Graham
Cunningham
Hargreaves/Fozzard
Wilkin
Flannery
Roby

Moore
Faasavalu
Puletua
Soliola

If we can get that team out on the pitch, or one close to it, I feel the rumours of our demise may be a little premature.

Rather than the high kick to King I'd like to see a few grubbers in behind meli on the 4th.

The backs and the backrow are giving massive advantages to Wire. The front row is also weaker.

But you'll be stronger in the halves, especially if Briers is injured. Plus that almost all Samoan bench is pretty scary looking, in terms of the impact they could make.

If we can beat a team like that then we must have ALL trophies in the bag this season!

The outside backs I'd agree with, we're clearly weaker. I think we're a better bet in the halves though.

I'm not sure the backrow gives too much away - Wilkin/Flannery/Roby/Soliola and Clough if he comes into the reckoning can hold their own. I don't think any side in SL has a "massive" advantage over them.

Front row I'd agree with - Wire have an excellent third prop in Paul Wood to add to Carvell/Morley, but I think Graham/Puletua/Fozzard or Hargreaves/Fasavalu can front up to most packs.

Should be a classic, gutted I can't go and it isn't on telly. It's weekends like this I hate living down south.

We need to Shut down Eastmond hes are biggest threat.

It's Pryce you need to worry about, he's been in sensational form over the last month.

Have a feeling Leon may want to make a point to Smith after his omission from the England squad last year. As may Wello/Gardner/Maurie.

Not saying he was wrong to leave them out, just that it's human nature to want to prove people wrong.

I can actually see us putting in a big performance this weekend and nicking the game, or at least going very close.

Here are some areas we definately need to focus on.....

- Plenty of kicks, either in air or turning Meli and Gardener around would be a decent ploy. Especially with Gardener just returning from injury.

- Give one of our players' specific instructions to follow Pryce like a fly around shat. Maybe a couple of decent hits on him will ensure he does a Pryce-esque dissapearing act.

- Front up in forwards and keep discipline. No stupid high shots etc in their half!

- Dominate in the tackle; I'm tired of seeing us peel off them as if we're almost asking them to play the ball quick. It cripples us.

The key though essentially is to not allow emotion or nerves overwhelm us. And concentrate majorly on defence. Because whilst we've improved imeasurably this year so far, when Saints are hammering our line at the other end, I'm still not 100% confident we'll hold our line. I'm not being negative, just keeping my feet firmly on the ground.

when defending our line id like to see our line move up quicker rather than just standing there waiting for the opposition to attack

They are fair observations OP.

However, those weaknesses against Crusaders were mainly down to having so many youngsters in the squad because of injuries. If some older heads are back for Saints then attacking those 'weaknesses' will mean running into a brickwall.

If it's taken you guys until now to figure out that our outside backs are vulnerable to the high ball then obviously you haven't watched Saints play very often, especially in Grand Finals! Neither Meli nor Gardner can catch a high ball (although with Gardner it is a reversion to previous form as under Anderson he became quite safe under the high ball). As for our scrambling defence: it has been both superb and bloody awful in equal measure this season so I doubt a single Saints fan could say whether we will repel you or just lie down to have our tummies tickled. We were as sloppy as hell against Crusaders, especially in the second half, so I wouldn't necessarily take that as a sign for how we will be against you guys. However, we could be a walkover. God knows what we will be like; it's been months and months since I've known what to expect from Saints! For some fans that makes watching them all the more exciting. For me, however, it means a nervous breakdown is around the corner.

Number 1 has been a massive problem for the last 3yrs. That is nothing new.

Welcome to our world up until Tony turned up! Now i'm just excited and nervous. Damn, it never changes!

Head, neck and kidneys.

We could change this to the three areas to target Warrington.

1. High kicks to Riley, he is safe as houses with Wello breathing down his neck.
2. Short kicks behind the line, because, you play with two fullbacks and leave plenty of room behind the line, ideal for Eastmond to latch onto.
3. Monaghan, brilliant going forward, but can be exposed at defence if made to work hard in the ruck.

All I can say may the best team win.

point number 3. Is loving Poop. He's an excellent defender especially at marker.

yeh monaghan one of our best defensive players in the team but of the mark there hopefully potter thinks the same and sends people at him all night and i bet they get nowhere

one of the best defenders we have.

Sorry to be blunt pal but point 3 is total nonsense.....

Big game for Warrington psychologically I think this weekend.

They've played 2 big teams this season - scraping a win at Hudds and scraping a loss at Wigan.

If they lose this weekend they'll have lost 2/3 against the challengers. Win, on the other hand, and a gorilla is off their back and they prove they can mix it with the big boys.

Should be a beauty, especially with Saints having some troops back and a having found a bit of form with the ball.