Looking at various forecasts at this moment in time all seem to show dry and settled (with sunshine periods) from now right through to kick off at 5.30pm. However there is a shower period due anytime around 7-10pm. So we may just get away with a dry fast track pitch for the majority if not all of the match (obviously forecasts can change).

Fingers crossed - always helps the spectacle.

Ticket sales look strong as well with over 15k sold thus far though I can never understand why the club doesn't prioritise filling the stand the TV cameras face (East). South, North and West will be pretty much full but the big gaps in the East are what show up on Sky.

In the past am I right in thinking the West Stand was slightly more expensive than the East Stand and then they brought them in line? Since then it seems like the West gets more people in and the East less than was previously the case and then like you say, it doesn't look great on TV.

Even if it's only a couple of quid difference I think they should try and get more people gravitating towards the East and I also do not like them putting the community clubs in the North most weeks, as again that take people and atmosphere away from the South and East stands.

Yes you're right - they changed the prices a couple of years ago making the East and West the same. I don't understand the logic behind it as I've always thought having full stands on the TV makes it feel more important which a) casts the sport in a good light and b) may do more to persuade others to buy a ticket next time round.

Interesting snippets from the Leigh press conference-

Lammy doesn't think Wigan should have home advantage for this one, saying semis should be played at neutral venues. May as well do away with the league season in that case and do a cup draw.

Had to laugh when they told him about the praise Matty Peet had given him and was asked about the job he thought he was doing at Wigan and his response was to basically say that Wigan spend the most money, have the best assistants and a new owner and 'they're doing well' and are set up for success for 5-10 years.

Slightly bitter to say the least.

He also emphasized more, and praised you more on what you've said. What more did you want him to say?

He was asked specifically about Matty Peet and did everything he could to make it sound like Peet has it easy and that any success is because of other people and the advantages Peet has (great assistants, great academy, rich chairman etc).

As I say, he came across as pretty bitter to me.

If you think he's bitter, has your club made him to feel that way?

Matt Peet got his job. Is that enough, in your opinion, to make him bitter?

No not really.

I can imagine Lam is not overly pleased when he looks at his chairman's antics and the leotard-like outfits he has to wear on matchday, then reflects on what might have been if he'd been a little better in his role at Wigan.

You'd have to ask him why he came across that way and why he felt the need to deflect any praise whatsoever away from his old assistant coach. Sad really, especially when the question was asked because Matty Peet had praised the job Lam has done at Leigh but the green eyed monster does funny things to a man.

17k tickets sold, should be a cracker.

It's pleasing to see the play off crowds looking like they're bucking the trend this season. The venues and fixtures have played it's part (The fact most Yorkshire clubs don't bother with the play offs anymore helps keep the travelling down) but it's still positive and hopefully something we can build on. The biggest and best games of the season having the lowest crowds was always pretty baffling.