Suppose you're right about that, there would be less messing about with the team and Tommy is playing well at 9. So switch Mellor to 7, Tommy to 9 and McIllorum to the bench. I just feel with 3 games in 8 days the squad needs rotating to keep players fresh.

I wouldnt rest anyone. We go with our strongest available team. If that means preccy is unavailable then he may need to sit it out and hock play prop

not at castleford i think he is the best centre in super league at present!

Fielden is 100% out of the Wire game and doesnt know when he'll be back according to the man himself on twitter.

Doesn't sound too promising reading between the lines.

Doesn't sound good at all.

Stuart would IMO have had to return this week to stand any chance of being selected for the Wire game. We've seen previously how players returning from injury, race to play in an important game and nearly always aren't ready for it.

I think Hock's only just returned early enough to possibly force his way into the side for the QF, and even then I'm sure Madge will want to play him in as many of the remaining game as possible before that QF to prove he's up to the task.

Not necessarily - the last time I spoke to Stuart he was always planning realistically for an August return.

Very hard to put an exact time frame on his type of injury - he'll be ready when he's ready but I reckon he'll play a part this season.

Depending on Fitness I'd go for

Sam
Roberts
Joel
Goulding
Richards
Finch
Tommy
Lima
MM
Coley
HH
Tuson
Lockers

Mellor
Hock
Farrell
Crosby

Against Cas and

Sam
Charnley
Joel
Carmont
Roberts
Finch
Deacs
Prescott
Tommy
Mossop
Hoffman
Tuson
Farrell

MM
Lima
Crosby/Davies
Lockers

against Quins.

Gives most of the older players a rest. Where we are going to struggle in these two games is at prop.

Roberts isnt fit he had an operation on his knee not so long ago.

It'll be interesting to see whether Mellor, Crosby or Logan play for Widnes today against Hunslet. Those that do we can no doubt rule out of playing in the Cas game on Wednesday.

J.Tomkins and Charnley need as many games together as possible to work on there partnership defensively in preperation for Wire. We should be looking to rest a few players over these two games looking ahead to the Wire QF. I'd say Hoff, Lockers, Prescott, Carmont and Deacon could do with a break either missing a full game or being rested significantly during a game. Even if we had just the one game this week i'd say Deacon could do with a rest so i'd sit him out of both, he's pivotal for us in big games so we want him 100% fit and sharp for Wire. Cas is the more difficult game so we need to watch what we do regards the team selection and rest more Vs Quins.

My team for Cas ...

Sam
Charnley
Joel
Carmont
Pat
Finch
Mellor
Mossop
Tommy
Lima
Hock
HH
Lockers

McLlorum
Coley
Crosby
Farrell

Then Quins ...

Sam
Charnley
Joel
Goulding
Pat
Finch
Mellor
Mossop
Tommy
Lima
Hoffman
Tuson
Farrell

McLlorum
Coley
Hock
HH

Not too worried about Wednesday

It'll be Quins away on the Saturday which might prove a game too far.

Bit O/T, but does anyone know of somewhere in Newcastle-upon-tyne where i could see the game?

Mellor, Crosby and Logan do indeed play for Widnes today. So unless Tommy moves to 7 and McIlorum plays the full eighty, Deacon won't be getting a rest against Cas.

Deacs went off midway through the 2nd half against Leeds and Tommy went to 7, maybe with Wednesday in mind

I think the opposite - in my opinion it would be dangerous to our season to not change things around.

I would actually gamble and make wholesale changes bringing in Goulding (Carmont), Farrell (Hoffman), Hock (Prescott), Mellor (Deacon), Davies (Mossop), Marsh (Richards) and possibly Hughes (O'Loughlin).