If we control the ball like we did at widnes we will win the game. The defence needs tightening a bit as we all know charnley and joel are going to be targeted all day. I'd be tempted to swap deacs and finch around in the defensive line to see if finch can stabalise that side a bit more. Start McIllorum from the off and bring tommy on after 25 minutes for me. I'm going to say a wigan wigan by about 14 points! We prepare for this like a final in my eyes! It truly is that important!

saints don't have the big game mentality anymore and have fewer game-breakers than they have done in the past when they've come up against us.

we are unbeaten in 8 consecutive games with the best defense in the SL (i know this is a CC game!) and we only have to cut out certain players in their side and we can rule the game. they have a bigger job on than us and therefore i am uber confident!

Don't say stuff like that!!

Im even less confident than I was at the start of the week, got a horrible feeling its going to be a bad, bad day Saturday.

Sounds like an obvious point, but it all boils down to who's got the steeliest mentality.

Wigan, on paper, are a better outfit than Saints at present. But Wigan have a habit of not turning up for certain big matches. If they do that, Saints - whose tenacity in hanging on near the top despite having no ground this year, lots of injuries etc, is admirable - will sense they can cause an upset and will go for it.

As others have said, Wigan need to come out all guns blazing as they did against Wire, but they need to maintain it for as long as possible - they cannot afford to pack in at any stage. They must keep going, and deny Saints any self-belief (which is one area, I feel, where they may be more vulnerable than Warrington).

The last thing we need in this match is a Wigan side looking blase. It's almost impossible to imagine that anyone would do that in a big Cup game, but look at our last two CC semis.

I'm 50/50 as it's the Derby, however Saints wins versus the best two sides in SL this season (Wigan & Wire) = 0/5

Quite funny this thread, some people are all doom and gloom and we've got no chance, whereas others reckon we're gonna walk it! Play to our clinincal best, keep the penalty count down and the completion rate high and we've got every chance. But we definitely shouldn't be underestimating Saints who are likely to be fielding one of their strongest squads of the season. Should be a belter. Can't wait now, this weeks dragging like mad!!

fair point saints havent beaten any of the top 4 this season (big games) which is a worry. however we are on a good run of form also at the moment and starting to get injured players back. i think it will be a lot closer to call than the widnes game. its all down to whether saints can get a quick play the ball. if you slow us down there is only one winner in my opinion

Never confident, they have an ability to beat any team when on song.

Should be a great game.

Aha Pie People, do I detect a touch of the one season wonders syndrome?

Saints will give it a good go, but I suspect you'll squeak through. We have been practising our "Wigan Way" tackling techniques, so Cas forwards can expect some pain in the knee joint area, and a lengthy spell on the ground at the PTB.

Looking forward to bashing you at Wembley.

My confidence from the start of the week is fading into optimisim due to reading some of the post on here, I just hope the weather stays off so we can have one hell of a spectacle