For me:

FB 3 Hardaker
RW 28 Halsall
RC 11 Isa
LC 22 Bibby
LW 20 Hanley
SO 20 Smith
SH 31 Hastings
P 19 Byrne
H 9 Powell
P 21 Havard
SR 13 Bateman
SR 12 Farrell
LF 15 Smithies

S 7 Leuluai
S 17 Clubb
S 23 Clark
S 25 Shorrocks

Rotate the props, give an opportunity to Halsall to compete with Hanley for that wing spot. Start to have a look at whether Smith is going to be ready to step up to being a starter next year. Spell Powell with Leuluai to give them both an easier week. Powell has been playing 80 mins making a ton of tackles, Leuluai is getting older and it worries me how many head knocks he has had.

Is this being shown online anywhere?

19:45 KO – York City Knights v Wigan Warriors – Live on The Sportsman website, YouTube & Facebook

(free)

Makes sense to roll full strength IMO given we only had 1 pre season game. York are no mugs and though we should still win with a weaker team this all but ensures safe passage into the next round

Quite a few ex-SL players in their squad - some I hadn't even realised were at York!

Ryan Atkins
Kieran Dixon
Adam Cuthbertson
Ben Jones-Bishop
Danny Washbrook

They'll be looking to do a number on us.

Anyone else see BJB getting into the clear and being chased down by a second rower v Sheffield in the cup? I bet he got some stick over that afterwards They just got pumped at home v Toulouse as well. If they can keep us under 40 they will be happy. Not sure what approach Lam will take, but personally I think it's less risky to give some of these fringe players a game now, rather than throw them straight into the deep end against a good team when injuries/COVID force our hand.

If we are worried about any of the above players then were in serious trouble. If we play with some intensity for 20/25 minutes game will be as good as over.

They’re missing quite a few players York as well (Danny Kirmond, Chris Clarkson, Jordan Baldwinson and Kris Brinning are four with superleague experience), so anything less than a comfortable win will be poor really. I’m not expecting 60 or 70 points like you got in the cup games against championship clubs a few years ago but a good, solid 20-30 win shouldn’t be beyond us.

Bit of an exaggeration, I wanted to give two kids (Hanley and Kilner) a run back when we thought everyone bar Marshall would be fit and available. I get that in the short term the least risky option is to always play your strongest side, but longer term that tends to lead to lads being thrown straight into the deep end against a good team when injuries strike (see Murphy v Leeds in the 2012 play offs which basically wrecked his career as an example). It also runs the risk of burning out your best players later in the season (which is why we didn't make the Grand Final in 2011 despite being the best team in the league IMO).

We only played for 20 minutes and still beat Leigh

That's never going to impress Jukesays. You're wrecking the system now!

I actually agree with both of you.

Play your best side and win the game.

HOWEVER in a comp that is about how you finish as opposed to a first past the post where every result matters, I also see the advantage in resting players where you can (see Lockers for about 4 seasons) and giving other players experience they may need at a later date to ensure you have your best side available when it counts.

We have to win the game, the fact it’s knockout makes it the biggest game we’ll play so far this season and other than rotating two props I’d stick with the strongest side. They’re not a bad side by any stretch and whilst a defeat is unlikely, it’s not unthinkable if we turn up with a rotten attitude and a team with numerous changes. The games a great opportunity for young Hanley to build some confidence and I’d probably look at playing Clubb and Clark in place of Byrne and Bullock and tell them they have to absolutely smash the door down if they want to keep a place in the next league game.

I’d go-

Hardaker
Bibby Isa Farrell Hanley
Hastings Leuluai
Singleton Powell Havard
Bateman Smithies Partington

Subs
Clark Clubb Shorrocks Smith