That's true to an extent, but I'm starting to wonder just how much a first choice Kyle Eastmond should be. He seems to be injured all the time. I'm starting to regard him in the same way I regard Amos Roberts - a very useful player when he's available, which isn't often.

Determined to perpetuate this myth, aren't you?

What you mean is we haven't made any fuss about our injuries in the same way Leeds & Saints have, and also we have had better youngsters to come in and cover for them (in many cases good enough that our first choices couldn't get their places back after their injuries).

First half of the year he was quality. Just had a couple of long term injuries.

I'd say he's different to Amos in the respect that Amos is fit just isn't in form.

I think if Kyle's fit then he definately improves saints.

Wheeler and Lomax are also big losses, I think both (but especially Wheeler) would have nailed down first team spots if fit, Wheeler was supposed to take the other centre position wasn't he?

Hey it could be worse. I could be named after a self proclaimed hard man who in reality lost more fights than all his fellow Saints forwards put together.

Injuries are part of sport full stop. Do you think they put the number of injuries a team had in brackets next to their name each season in the history books? Blaming injuries is a pathetic excuse because everybody has them and everybody has a squad to deal with them its just some are better than others.

Cunningham currently has a chest infection. Now although I don't expect it stop him playing, I do hope it leaves him physically drained. No matter what the Saints fans say Keiron is the lynch pin in their team and stopping him goes a long way to stopping Saints.

Even more so when they're missing first, second and third choice half backs.

I just think a bit of perspective is necessary with [isome[/i of the Wiganers who have posted on this thread.

There is little necessity to perpetuate any 'myth' about Saints' injuries this season. They are well documented. At present we are probably stronger than we have been all season and are still missing Leon Pryce and Kyle Eastmond, our starting halves. I think we all know that missing your halves probably has more impact on the side than any other.

Anyhow, it matters not. In terms of the game itself, I cant see anything other than a tight affair. We have played each other twice and both were tight games which could have gone either way. I am more confident because Matty Smith is playing. Saints, more than any other side, are aware about how important kicking is at Old Trafford. We've all sat there and watched Sinfield systematically take us apart with kicking for 3 years at the place. I also believe Saints are stronger up front and would expect both sides to defend for their lives in a final. Wigan are stronger on the flanks and Saints will need to defend well out wide. I do believe that Wigan would want it to be dry on Saturday, if it rains I think it plays into Saints hands. I see us putting Meli in the centres to stop the inevitable hammering he would get from kicks on the wing. Saints will play through the middle and Wigan will be creative and that in essence will be the contest.

Lets hope for a great game and may the best team win.

Loving the arrogance of the Wigan fans after finally making the GF

I have a little tip for you - getting murdered territorially by a Leeds side missing Peacock, with JJB/Bailey unfit and missing McGuire isn't too much to shout home about. Had McGuire been on the pitch with that sort of possession, you'd probably be out right now.

Given how often Gidley has ripped Wigan up, I find it quite funny that our backs are labelled "p*ss poor". Three of our other "p*ss poor" backs scored tries in a win at the DW not so long ago. A game in which we were missing Kyle/Soliola/Wilkin/Gardner/Wheeler/Lomax and had Nick Fozzard and Paul Johnson on the bench who've barely played all year.

I have a feeling some people might be a little bit surprised by our fat, slow, barge over merchants on Saturday.