I'm quite looking forward to it and I hope we put a strong team out, wouldn't want to risk the likes of lockers and Williams after picking up knocks last weekend though. I would go:

Bowen
Charnley
Gelling
Tomkins
Burgess
Hampshire
Smith
Sutton
McIlorum
Clubb
Patrick
Farrell
Bateman

MOssop
Tomkins
Crosby
C.Farrell

Anyone know what the Brisbane team is looking like? I don't watch much NRL but can only assume they won't be putting out too strong a side for this?

Heard from a few people I work with, rumours about playing all your kids and saving the 1st team for the SL game the week after - seen as there is nothing really at stake in this game.

Didn't we have to pay to be involved in this tournament and that's why Warrington are in it rather than Huddersfield? Can't see us playing the kids if that's the case.

Wigan won't play a weakened side.

Wane has told the WEP that Sarginson should be ok and Williams and Tautai are fine. Lockers is a huge doubt (believe he's out for a while) and Mossop didn't do enough for Worky to force his way in.

It's looking like-

Bowen
Charnley Gelling Sarginson Burgess
Williams Smith
Crosby McIlorum Sutton
Tomkins Farrell Bateman

Subs- Clubb Tautai Patrick Tomkins

I think that will be the side but I'd probably put Connor Farrell in for Patrick.

If Sarge is back it's a huge bonus. He's a very good centre alongside Burgess and will allow Joel's return to the pack. I think Clubb is going great and instinct says start with him. Head though says play him off the bench so that him and TT coming on and we don't lose any intensity.
Shaun needs to play his first team as they need to pick up some form. The last thing they need is a week without a game.

Looking forward to it.

Over 15,000 tickets now sold according to the clubs official site. www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news

Over 15,000 tickets now sold according to the clubs official site. www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... &type=news

Ted is right - I think the WCC game will give us an advantage against Hull KR - a break at this point in the season will do teams no good at all.

Certainly will be our strongest side. I'm hoping we'll soon be moving away from using Crosby and Sutton as starting props. Sutton barely has any 1st team experience so should be phased in from the bench for me whilst Crosby simply isn't playing well enough. Hoping to see Clubb, Mossop and Tautai carry more of the workload in the weeks to come.

I really hope we can step it up on Friday - if we play like we have we'll be embarrassed.

This talk of Brisbane bringing over a weakened side is rubbish, they haven't brought an extended squad but they don't need more than their match day squad. They've brought Hodges, Thaiday, Parker and Ben Hunt, all Aus internationals the first 3 shoe ins for the Aus test team and Queensland over the last few years. Add to that Josh Maguire and Anthony Millford Samoan internationals plus Blair and Glenn NZ internationals.

This should be a seen as a prestigious game IMO and as such we should play our strongest team without playing someone injured.

O'Loughlin looks to be missing whilst Tautai, Sarginson and Williams should be back. I'd go...

Bowen
Charnley
Gelling
Sarginson
Burgess
Williams
Smith
Clubb
McLlorum
Sutton
Farrell (Bateman)
Tomkins
Bateman (O'Loughlin)

Tomkins
Crosby
Tautai
Patrick (L.Farrell)

Patrick and Crosby very lucky that Flower and Mossop are unavailable/returning from injury as both have been extremely poor so far this year.

Yeah all this talk about Brisbane bringing a weak team and Wigan being favourites is bull. They've got plenty of internationals, a Wigan win would be a very good result, looking forward to it!

Wigan are favourites. There's nothing "bull" about it. Brisbane haven't brought a full team. Nothing "bull" about that either.

I don't get why Wigan fans are going all out to make themselves out to be underdogs here.

They've brought a full team except injured players.

Are they resting anyone? No.
Could they have brought more fringe players as backups? Yes, but so what?
Do I even care about the game? No, but you're posting garbage again.

If the exact same teams played each other in Brisbane, they would be favourites.

I'm not posting garbage at all. I have stated two facts that's all. Oh but because I'm a Saints fan, the locals are up in arms. Grow up.

I agree with the last bit.

I don't get why you are going all out to make us favourites and why you seemingly spend a worrying amount of your time commenting on us. You might not have realised but the majority of Wigan fans on a Wigan forum don't want to hear your view on every single matter. Getting boring now.

I'm not making you anything pal. It's the bookies who set the handicaps, not me.

7 first team injuries in the BB side