A home game against Cas, Hull KR or a weakened Leeds is winnable. We'll have no chance against Catalans or Saints. Warrington maybe an outside chance but we won't play them as we'd each have to beat one of Catalans or Saints to meet in the GF.

If we sneak through the first week, going to Catalan or Saints (if wire lose week 1) an and underdog with nothing to lose could be interesting.

Maybe I’m being disrespectful to Catalans but I’d give us a fair shot against them. It’s a totally different ball game play off rugby and as a club they don’t have much experience of winning play off games. Guys like Tomkins, Maloney and McIlorum help on that score but it’s the one team from them, Wire and Saints I could see us pushing extremely close. I’d actually be extremely nervous about playing HKR. I think they have the personnel and they’ll have that nothing to lose attitude that could well turn us over before any semi anyway.

Much rather play Leeds than HKR, their off loading game has killed us, Leeds will be an arm wrestle and if we keep them below 12 we'll have a chance, with the best will in the world it's hard to see us getting any further than that though

I'd agree with your premise but I feel like we have lost a fair bit of big game experience too without Williams, Leuluai, Flower and Lockers.

We have but there’s still plenty left and it is in the clubs dna to rise at this time of the year. A lot of those young boys did it last year and there’s still guys like Hardaker, Gildart, Hastings, Powell, Bateman, Singleton, Isa, Farrell and Bateman who have been through these play offs time and again. They’d be huge favourites but I wouldn’t put it past us. Even though they lack play off experience I’d be really nervous about playing HKR. I think they’ll chance their arm and throw it around and play a very non traditional play off game.

Those experienced play off players know how to win a play off game. Whilst throwing it about and play non traditionally might work in regular season games, play off games are a whole different ball game (excuse the pun) and have to be played differently, the intensity in D and attack are different, the crowd noise, can pressure etc. Despite losing twice to them this year I’d say we should be beating HKR/Leeds in the play offs simply because of that experience, I’m not saying we’d trounce them but I don’t think we should expect anything less than a win. The likes of Catalans/Saints/Warringtons I don’t think we have a cat in hells chance.

I’d rest as many as possible this week, it’s been a long season for us.

I expect Catalan to be pretty much full strength as they have a week off next week & won’t want to go into the semi undercooked.

If Catalans do go full strength (ish), then a tanking for a weakened Wigan side won't be great either.

True, a tanking and fatigue for a full strength side would be worse though.

James McDonnell has been recalled from his loan and will be in the squad on Friday. I think we can safely say we’ll be resting plenty.

Pretty much expected in fairness. I think I’d prefer us to go all out but can see why we’d rest.