Goulding, Green McIlorum and Locky all back.

25 John Bateman, 1 Matty Bowen, 32 Joe Burgess, 24 Tony Clubb, 17 Dom Crosby, 16 Gil Dudson, 12 Liam Farrell, 5 Anthony Gelling, 3 Darrell Goulding, 6 Blake Green, 14 Jack Hughes, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 13 Sean O'Loughlin, 19 Sam Powell, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 27 George Williams

I think Gelling will probably play on the wing. It would have been a difficult gig for Manfredi v Ryan Hall.

Really hope we don't see Jack Hughes at centre, seen SW mention that as an option in a few of his interviews when he's been asked about covering Thornley's injury.

think it will be Goulding and Sarginson in the centres.......hope we aint lightweight on the bench........

Bowen
Gelling
Goulding
Sarginson
Burgess
Green
Smith
Taylor
McIlorum
Clubb
Bateman
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Williams
Dudson
Hughes
Crosby

Think our bench will be the killer, we're too weak there. couple too many injuries + in form Leeds = long night for us

Leeds 19:

1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. McGuire
8. Leuluai
10. Peacock
12. Ablett
13. Sinfield
14. Ward
15. Delaney
16. Bailey
17. Kirke
18. Clarkson
19. Achurch
20. Briscoe
21. Sutcliffe
23. Singleton

With both Burrow & Aiton injured it's difficult to tell who'll be playing where but I'd guess at:
1. Hardaker/Jones-Bishop
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sutcliffe/Hardaker
7. McGuire
8. Leuluai
9. Sinfield
10. Peacock
11. Achurch
12. Ablett
13. Delaney

14. Ward/Sutcliffe
15. Singleton
16. Bailey
17. Kirke

In my opinion Jack Hughes just isn't good enough. He comes up with far too many errors.

I'm surprised Manfredi isn't included tbh, it would have been a good test for him.

Looking at that squad I'd go-

Bowen
Sarginson Goulding Gelling Burgess
Green Smith
Taylor McIlorum Crosby
Farrell Bateman Lockers

Subs
Clubb James Hughes Williams


Dudson and Powell to miss out.

I reckon/hope they are deliberately trying to give Gelling a run of games at centre to decide whether to keep him or not. He did alright v Bradford IMO with two would-be tries chalked off for forward passes. Against Hunslet he was fairly quiet as the ball didn't come to him in space. He did win the collision and almost shake off his defender a couple of times but on the other hand he knocked on once in his own half. So all in all I think he's done alright but he'll need to do something special soonish if he wants to keep the LC spot ahead of Sarginson when Charnley returns to the wing

As Leeds fan looking at that back-line you would hope for some success from a Moon/Hall partnership up against Gelling and Burgess, and Watkins/Briscoe up against Sarginson and Goulding.

That pack doesnt look as intimidating as usual, Farrell and Bateman are good young back rowers, but not the established names which would strike fear in to you, similarly for Taylor and Crosby, though i do think Taylor has had a great start to the year.

Its a big strong bench but not one that would terrify you with impact, but it will add to the way Wigans forwards grind it out and there isnt a drop in physicality.

If Leeds can match Wigan, or even win the battle up front i think the outside backs will be too good to keep out and Leeds defence this year has been brilliant and Very difficult to score against

On the other hand thats a big strong pack capable of getting on top of teams, Leeds missing Burrow and Aiton might make it more difficult to get quick distribution from the ruck to pull players in and get that space out wide and a good kicking game from Green and Smith would probably put Wigan in poll position in that case.

Whoever is played at left centre, think they're in for a torrid time.

I think that's a reasonably fair assessment, the one advantage Wigan do have over Leeds on Friday is we are at least coming in to it with our first choice spine.

We need our forwards to step up in the middle, Taylor and Clubb will punch holes in the defence all day long but the likes of James, Crosby and Dudson need to ensure they play at the same intensity with Flower and Pettybourne missing. Farrell and Bateman have been outstanding so far this year, and will need to make sure they help out Goulding and Sarginson/Gelling against your centres.

If we can match you upfront and keep it tight in the opening 20 or so then we definitely have a shot. Goalkicking isn't as much of a worry as it maybe would have been a month ago if it ends up close, Smith has upped his success rate recently.

One of these days Wigan might actually get praise from pundits and opposition fans alike for what we've done as a club since 2010 instead of swooning over Leeds, Saints & Wire. Despite being the current holders of both major competition trophies Leeds are apparently the best team in the competition, Yet that best team couldn't beat Saints yet Wigan outclassed out skilled and outplayed that same Saints side whilst finishing the game with only 14 of the 17 we started the game with two of which were forwards. Still there's nothing all that impressive about that, So far this season we have faced Saints & Wire from the very good sides and on both occasions Wigan were far superior yet didn't receive such high praise from a former Wigan coach as Leeds have. Every man and his dog can see that Wigan are a big game side the games I just referenced and then those 4 finals we've been in since 2010 and haven't lost in against Saints, Leeds, Wire & Hull. Though of course being double winners pales in comparison to Leeds beating Saints in the Challenge Cup or Saints beating Leeds at Langtree park in the last minutes. Perhaps Wigan are just there to make up the numbers.

Thats a very interesting stage of victimhood.