It might only be a coincidence but there is no denying that we have struggled at home in games with big crowds, and not just games against Wire and Saints, but games we'd probably be expected to win.

Our last few "big" crowds over the last 3 seasons at home don't read particularly well:

29/6/12 Bradford (Heritage game) L 22-30 19628
23/3/12 Warrington L 20-22 21267
5/2/12 Huddersfield L 16-20 16771
9/9/11 Crusaders (Heritage game) W 42-10 19104
25/6/11 Huddersfield (Big One 3?) W 46-12 19169
22/4/11 St Helens W 28-24 24057
25/3/11 Warrington L 6-24 21056
27/2/11 St George (WCC) L 15-21 24268
3/9/10 Bradford W 34-12 17058
16/7/10 Warrington (Big One 2) L 16-23 22701
20/6/10 St Helens L 24-26 20498
23/4/10 Harlequins L 26-38 18605
26/3/10 Leeds W 24-4 17883

So that's 13 home crowds over 16.5k, losing 8 and winning 5

We lose 1 game yes it was a big game and all this negative talk comes out from most of our fans

The reason we lost the semi is pretty straight forward we didn't turn up and Leeds did we missed Tommy/Smith, with locky at 6 the ball from first or second receiver wasn't good enough no zip like it is with Tommy there now Smith is in it looks 100 times better and i'm pretty happy on how he's slotted in

People need to get out their heads that we will see Tommy back this season it's not going to happen the club has not made a statement saying so but why would they pay out cash mid season for a 7? think about it even if he could run on his leg he wont be fit enough

We have got Paaaat coming back which is massive strike power that left side hasn't looked the same since he was injured and him and Carmont know what each other is doing plus the danger of the high kick in the corner he's not been the top points scorer last couple of seasons on his kicking

Wire have 1 eye on the cc final they have Saints then us yeah i know it's 2-3 weeks before the final but they wont have full attention on taking the top spot atm, it's hard for any team to do the double in this day and age come the play offs it will show like it did with us last season

I may be getting over confident, but I still think we will win this one. I don’t think scoring would be our down-fall if we don't, even though we’ve missed a shed-load of opportunities in the last few games. No if we do lose I think it would be more through our defence if that happened. Hope Lockers is back to shore up the wall. That one trick pony Foster could be the difference at the end of the day, but as I said I do think we’ll take this one, our forwards should be too strong for them.

Looks like we'll face Hull without Finch and O'Loughlin -

Phil Wilkinson ‏@PhilWilkWIG
Shaun Wane press conf: plans to give Sam Powell a debut against Hull FC. Finch struggling to be fit, O'Loughlin a doubt.

Sam Tomkins will captain the team.

Given that most league games are effectively meaningless friendlies, especially once the top 8 has been made certain I'm glad that Powell is getting a chance. No player should be risked if they are carrying knocks.

We will have to out score them with tries considrably as Foster is kicking everything for them.
Wigan 28 Hull 14

Our likely team:

T. Briscoe
T. Lineham
J. Turner
K. Yeaman
J. Foster
R. McGoldrick
A. Heremaia
A. Lynch
D. Houghton
L. Watts
W. Manu
J. Westerman
R. Whiting

Aspinwall
O'Meley
Pitts
Green

www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... igan-debut No finch, Goulding or Flower and possibly no Lockers

www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... igan-debut No finch, Goulding or Flower and possibly no Lockers

and James Child as referee...............

www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 393&type=1 Looking pretty light now. Finch is key. Powell will need to have a good game. To have Goulding, Pat, Finch, Tommy, Prescott, Lockers, Fielden, Dudson and Flower out is quite alot. Most teams couldn't handle that but I am confident we can.

www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 393&type=1 Looking pretty light now. Finch is key. Powell will need to have a good game. To have Goulding, Pat, Finch, Tommy, Prescott, Lockers, Fielden, Dudson and Flower out is quite alot. Most teams couldn't handle that but I am confident we can.

Ben Flower must be so frustrated because everytime he has a chance to nail a place down his hamstrings seem to play up. I'm happy enough to see Finch rested as long as it is just a niggle. We can't afford to risk anybody at this stage and I'd rather finish 2nd and go in to the play offs with a full side rather then finish first but lose a couple of players along the way.

For Friday I'd go-

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding (Thornley if Gouldings out)
Carmont
Thornley (Murphy)
Powell
Smith
Lauaki
McIlorum
Mossop
Hansen
Hock
Farrell

Subs
Crosby
Lima
Tuson
Hughes

Tough game now with these new injuries but it's still very winnable.

I think we may run like

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Iain Thornley
4. George Carmont
5. Anthony Gelling
6. Sam Powell
7. Matty Smith
8. Lee Mossop
9. Mike McIlorum
10. Eric Lauaki
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Gareth Hock
13. Chris Tuson

14. Jeff Lima
15. Dom Crosby
16. Liam Farrell
17. Jack Hughes

18. Logan Tomkins
19. Jack Murphy

Some of our best performances this year have come in the face of adversity. I think back to Saints on Good Friday and Leeds away when on both occasions we were without key players. Saying that we can't grumble, Ull FC have been injury ridden all year.

Looking forward to it. Should be a cracker!

The other option of course is :

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Jack Hughes
4. George Carmont
5. Iain Thornley
6. Sam Powell
7. Matty Smith
8. Lee Mossop
9. Mike McIlorum
10. Eric Lauaki
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Gareth Hock
13. Chris Tuson

14. Jeff Lima
15. Dom Crosby
16. Liam Farrell
17. Anthony Gelling

The George/Gelling partnership wasn't working (at the end george was choosing to cut inside rather than try to find Gelling), so I would like to see George/Thornley carry on.
Gelling on the bench can provide cover for the backs/back row.

With a few new combinations in there, it is probably a step too far for Murphy to come in on the wing and try to forge another new centre/wing relationship.

what about flower at lf?