5 games to go and I expect the top eight to be (but I wouldn't put any money on it):

1. Wigan 44 points
2. St Helens 38 points
3. Catalan 38 points
4. Warrington 37 points
5. Leeds 34 points
6. Hull 26 points
7. Huddersfield 24 points
8 Hull K R 23 points

Play-offs:
Wigan v Warrington
Saints v Catalan
Leeds v Hull K R
Hull v Huddersfield

[iThe top 4 knock 7 shades out of each other whilst 2 lower teams cruise into the next round.[/i

Yes this is something RFL need to look at and IMO should change to the 1v8, 2v7 etc. same as NRL for play offs giving teams in 1 and 2 a proper advantage rather than a week off which actually can be a disadvantage.

Yes, strong top 5 and weak 6,7 and 8 gives 5th placed team an advantage.

Ditto.

This year the aussies have changed their playoff format to one that is pretty similar to the one we use over here.

NRL are using the same system as Super League this year, minus the Club Call element, I think?

Personally don't think there's a lot wrong with the system, if we have to have a Top 8. The only thing that's an issue for me is that we could quite easily end up with a three consecutive match series against St Helens to finish our season off, with only the third game really counting for anything.

Some folk complained that Leeds had an 'easy' path to the trophy from 5th last year, but they still had to beat Huddersfield away (4th), Warrington away (1st) and St Helens (3rd) to win the Grand Final. Granted, by that stage, the Giants were a spent force, much as they seem to be this year, but there's no way to account for that. They finished 4th on merit across the 27-game season, even if they were out of form by September.

There are plus points and flaws to any system you can conceive, but I can't think of many ways to improve what we have at the moment, assuming there has to be eight clubs involved.

I think Wire will finish first or second.

only improvement would be for highest placed team in each match to get home advantage if they so wish in all rounds

wigan 42
wire 41
saints 40

No way Wire will finish 4th, its still us or them for top spot.
I'd also pick Catalans above Saints. Don't fancy Saints against us or Warrington.

Wire will NOT lose three of their remaining five games..
Apart from Saints and Wigan they have London, Hudds and Widnes to play.

If last nights result is anything to go by, then Stains will win all their remaing games this season. After all, the 'forward pass' and 'knock on' rules clearly don't apply to them.

Saints and Leeds are coming into form at the right time again.

I'll go for:

Wigan
Wire
Saints
Leeds
Catalans
Hull FC
Hull KR
Hudds

Leeds bt Wigan
Saints bt Wire
Cats bt Hudds
FC bt KR

Wigan bt FC
Wire bt Cats

Wire bt Saints
Leeds bt Wigan

Wire bt Leeds