It is simple- We have far more first choice players missing then Wire. If you don't want to agree to that for fear of it belittling any potential win then I can't do anything about that. FWIW I believe you'd beat us with a pretty much full strength team because your form is better then ours but with the team we have out it should be reasonably comfortable for you.

As an interesting comparison and I know squad numbers don't mean everything (although they're a very good indication as teams generally put their top 17 in order)but you're missing your squad numbers 15,16,17,19,21,23 and 24 compared to our 1,3,6,8,9,10 and 14.

Sums it up nicely for me. You're missing squad players, we're missing starting players.

Wigan have far more influential players missing than us. Every big game is approached this way these days though where people look for an excuse for a loss or revel in a backs to the wall victory.
Its wire v wigan i dont care about the personnel.

I'm not belittling anything at all and think that this particular trait sits elsewhere.

I accepted that you were probably missing more influential personnel but asked you to reconsider your original statement that all we were missing from our first choice 17 was Dwyer and Dodds and gave you evidence of players that are missing, I even omitted Bailey and made light of including Wheeler on my list in the interests of fair play.

We don't know for sure whether Russell is playing and it seems that Westerman isn't so that's a possible 5 14 15 16 and 17 from the first 17 numbers on Tony's team sheet using your selection criteria. Although I'm very pleased with the form of our 32, we are certainly not missing just 2 players. I also suspect that the numbers, yes they are squad numbers given to Evans Laithwaite and Harrison might also include a reflection of their long term injury status as much as where they would sit in the pecking order should everyone be fit.

Sums it up nicely for me, if you don't want to agree that your earlier post was too simplistic, then I can't do anything about that

Is nickie kiss Josie Mourinho in disguise, already got a excuse in, if the pies , thugs sorry Wigan loose. Tell everyone how many players they are missing compared to wire, if they don't win they got a ready made excuse . Just looking forward to a a great game and atmosphere and show what a great sport it is after a bit of bad unjustified bad press. COYW

We have no excuse for not putting up a game but Wire literally don't have any for not getting the win tonight.

You can say we're getting them in early but all the biting back at a comment that we're missing 7 first choice players to your 2 seems as though you're trying to get them in first in case you suffer a defeat against a vastly under strength side. That adds a certain pressure but you're good enough to cope I'm sure.

As I've said on your board I think you'll get a 20 point win.

Here's to a good, competitive game.

"Biting back" you are funny.

I will have to leave you to your own devices as that's the way that you appear to like it. You seem to operate on the basis of writing, but, not reading which is an interesting form of correspondence...most self assuring.

One thing I hope that you are right of course is your predicted result and that it's a good competitive game.

"Wigan fans talk about Wigan team on Wigan forum board shocker!!"

How appropriate that we get quality like Rico on here on the 1st of April.

On the "Are Warrington any good" thread on this board the general Wigan opinion seems to be that Warrington have inferior strength in depth to Wigan at the moment.
I agree that Warrington are a little less under strength for tonights game than Wigan. I would say 5 or 6 players who would be in a start of season tony smith 17 are missing compared to Wigans 7 or 8. This is in no way a trolling message or the like but it will be interesting to see tonight how good your strength in depth is. Previously these type of games have opened my eyes to some excellent talent from your system!

"We won't win you will"

"You're having a laugh you'll definitely win not us"

So

Fake humility
Neither is confident
Don't want to look foolish if on losing side.

I remember the days when Wire fans came on here saying how they would smash you to pieces.
Wigan fans would reply how they were the greatest and they didn't stand a chance and they'd win by at least 20.

Personally...head above the parapet Wire should win, Wigan have some (not all) key strike men out, we, have squad players out and our main attacking threats (Sandow, Gidley, Russell) all there and ready to go.

But

Hull rested a lot and beat us, so no guarantee, sport is a funny business.

I just want first and foremost and tight, exciting, big hit, fast hands end to end game which could go anyway with 15 to go.

Then a Wire win obviously.

I love my sport, I want it to appeal to the masses, it needs to liven up, tighten up and buck up.

Nobody is a more positive person than i about Wigan winning, and i feel you have the advantage. Last i heard the bookies do too, as i'm no gambler i can't confirm this (just looked, you still are!!!) So don't come with your "Fake humility/Neither is confident/Don't want to look foolish if on losing side", claptrap...

Don't forget, it's always your year.... Don't know why we bother top turn up...

Ah well, glad i'm not a gambler... If we are, i'm surprised. I'm never bothered about being proved wrong, and i hope i am on this occasion too.

Bliko just made an interesting tweet, and he is normally accurate with these things.

Bilko @wiganrlfans
Looking at squads, Warrington can call upon every one of squad numbers 1 - 14.

Wigan missing 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 & 14.

Interesting reading...

[list

But that doesn't count because they're missing Gary Wheeler, Ryan Bailey, Toby King and Lee Briers.

The biggest issue Wire have from an injury point of view tonight is who's going to be fit enough from their reserves to carry the kicking tee?!