4 Ryan Atkins
18 Matty Blythe
6 Lee Briers
17 Mike Cooper
13 Ben Harrison
14 Micky Higham
20 Chris Hill
1 Brett Hodgson
21 Tyrone McCarthy
5 Joel Monaghan
9 Michael Monaghan
8 Adrian Morley
7 Richie Myler
24 Gareth O'Brien
19 Stefan Ratchford
2 Chris Riley
26 David Solomona
12 Ben Westwood
16 Paul Wood

Strong squad even without Carvs and Trent. Hodgy and Briers to 'miss out' for me. Looking forward to another trip to yarksheer.
Will Big Dave count as a double substitution?

ratch
riley
atkins
blythe
j monnas

o'brien
myler

wood
higham
hill
westwood
tyke
harrison

coops
moz
solo
m monnas

for mine

No surprise Bridge has been dropped - I hope Blythe plays like he has done the past few times he's stepped in, maybe with the added incentive that he could push his way in to Wembley plans.

Rested rather than dropped. Thought he had a good game in the semi.

Only Smith knows if its rested or dropped.

I've not been impressed with him in recent weeks. Maybe that's because he's set high standards previously. Some dubious offloads and decisions.

Rest assured, if he walks out on the pitch at Wembley he will obviously have my full backing, but I'd also like to see Blythe try and push his way in. Especially if it forces Bridge to return to his former self.

you are aware bridge needs a knee operation at the end of the season

He needs one now

So why did you say "No suprise Bridge has been dropped"?

I would imagine its pretty obvious from what Smith has said about resting players and Bridge's injury that Bridge is being rested. How you conclude he's been dropped is beyond me.

Pretty sure Bridge has been left out due to the tendonitis in his knee.

There are four players who can play half-back in that squad with Briers, Ratchford, Myler and O'Brien so two of those could be the ones to miss out. I know Ratchford can play full-back but he has played a lot of game time recently (including three games in a week when he had to step in for Briers at the last minute vs. Catalan). I can see him getting a week off this week if Hodgson is fit.

We need to wary of 'resting players', look what Cas did to Hudds the last time out!!

I wonder whether he might give Briers a week off after that injury, or perhaps Hodgson. Personally I would rest one or the other...

Hodgson/Ratchford
J.Monghan
Blythe
Atkins
Riley
O'Brien/Briers
Ratchford/Myler
Hill
Higham
Morley
McCarthy- earned a starting place for me in the semi
Westwood
Harrison

M.Monaghan
Wood
Cooper
Solomona

It would be insane to put GOB and Myler together after Salford. If Briers is to be rested:

Hodgson

Riley
Atkins
Blythe
Dogtanian

Ratchford
Myler

Morley
Monas
Hill
Westwood
McCarthy
Harrison

Cooper
Wood
Big Dave
Higham

what a truly great squad we have