I'd imagine Gelling would be over that side, staking a claim for the spot for the rest of the playoffs.

Rhodri Lloyd at 3? He played there with London.

A bit out there but I'd go:
RW 34 Burgess
RC 22 Gelling
LC 2 Charnley
LW 5 Richards

Charnley played centre when we loaned him to Hull KR in '10 and Burgess has looked great in the two games he's had, plus he's been tearing it up in the under 19s. Having said all that I'm sure Wane will play Hughes, who I really don't rate as a centre. Another option is Burgess straight in at centre, pretty sure he's played there for the 19s. If nowt else that backline has a hell of a lot of size (bar Charnley) and pace (bar Richards). Plus they all know their way over the line, which Goulding and Thornley aren't known for

Real problem with both centres out. Gelling will come in though Hughes at centre is not a good option. He's hardly played there this year. Maybe he'll put Pat at centre, he went there early 2nd half v Leeds for some reason.
My biggest worry is the pack and the "gameplan".
When we have Faz Tuson and H in the back three we get over run. They are not big enough. Hudds have some big men in their pack and we have to counter that.
Hope beyond hope is that we start an offloading game as Wire do, take them on up the middle, draw the big men in then offload and spin it out wide. Wire have run Hudds ragged with those tactics for years. We should try the same. Will we? No loving chance!
Same old, same old. Same old gameplan will mean same old result.

McIlorum has been injured in training and received 40 stitches to a cut in his mouth.

Not sure if it will threaten his participation on Thursday or not.

I'd go with:-

1. Richards
2. Charnley
3. Gelling
4. Thornley
5. Burgess
6. S Tomkins
7. Smith
8. Taylor
9. McIlorum
10. Mossop
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. Burke

14. Flower
15. Crosby
16. Tuson
17. R Hampshire

Apart from an odd flash of brilliance Green's kicking has been useless in recent games: Sam will add an element of uncertainty because the opposition will have forgotten how to deal with him. We need somebody that can think on his feet when a move gets blocked rather than the same old same old.

Pat at the back will be a solid last line of defence, a safe pair of hands, and he'll be on hand for the odd drop goal from the half way line!

Problem is at 13: I'd try Burke but have Flower or Tuson as options at changeover - maybe stay on for the rest of the game if any one of them is working.

I'd take the same old.

In 2010 we beat them 2 out of 3 times
In 2011 we hammered them at home and beat them away with a depleted side
In 2012 we lost narrowly at home and hammered them away

So, despite 2 defeats this year the same old would surely be a Wigan win?

were not in 2010,2011 or 2012 now.. This is 2013, this is the only year that matters

Almost true. What has happened this season no longer matters. It is all about how you play on the day.

Tomkins
Charnley Gelling Thornley Richards
Green Smith
Mossop McM Flower
Tuson Hansen
Faz
-------------------------------------
S Powell Taylor Burke Dudson

Sam
Charnley
Gelling
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
McLlorum
Crosby
Hansen
Farrell
Flower

A Powell
Taylor
Dudson
Tuson

I'd go BIG otherwise our pack will get dominated big time like has happened a lot recently and the backs have no chance on the back of that.

Huddersfield's pack is beatable so long as you don't lay them at their own game. If we try to match their big men by filling our pack with our big men I think we will lose that battle.

We need to tire them out and run them all over the park and have a good kicking game that keeps them stuck in their 20m as much as possible.

I'd go for mobility based on the fact trying to match them for muscle isn't going to work. Having given further thought to playing A Powell I think if we do he will and truly get found wanting. He was out of his depth v Leeds so against this lot? Well I reckon they will be glad to see him on the pitch.

And before anyone says I am having a go at him I am not. I just don't think he is ready.

Agreed, we need to play to our strength, and make their strength their weakness. Be mobile, kick well, and tire them.

i'd go with that apart from a nagging little thing that reminds me of a similar strategy last time we played the bulls at OT.
we got battered that day. lets hope we execute better tomorrow.

Difference being that was at the end of a playoff campaign where our lightweight pack had given their all.

We should be fresher vs Huddersfield and I am not worried about that.

Tbh I am not worried about our pack vs theirs, I am more worried about our creativity.

I still think we will win tommorrow though. Huddersfields league position flatters them massively. Their fans are deluded and actually think the LLS is reflective on who is the best team in the league.

We do need creativity at half though.

Due to have heavy rain this evening, before and during the match so we need the Matty Smith Challenge Cup Final 101 Master Class with the kicking game and tactics.

Regardless of weather kicking needs to to top notch

Why do you guys refer to Tomkins as 'Sam'? Are you all on 1st name terms with 'Sam' and not the rest of the players?

Because there are two Tomkins. Mind you there are also two Sams now, and two Powells

Yet another Saints newcomer shows his ar2e in public.

not really mate the OP says 'Sam' @ fullback. Sam who? Sam Powell? If that’s the case you may have a shot at winning tonight. SAM Tomkins has been found out now. He is nowhere near effective as previous, which happens to all good players. Roby as a good example. Also his lack of games could show tonight, what is the reasoning behind him playing so little games this season? I doubt he is injured / ill / his mum wrote him a note to get out of PE / he forgot his kit. A case of holding him back to sell at a higher price?

Tuson and Sam Powell out of the squad, replaced by Logan Tomkins and Greenwood.

No recognisable Loose forward and no one to spell the half backs which means Green will play the full 80. Game over before it's already started.

don't know if the actual team has been posted up but here is the team sheet via Sky Sports News.

Huddersfield Giants: Grix, Cudjoe, Wardle, McGillvary, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Kopczak, Ferres, Faiumu, Lawrence, Patrick, Chan, Ta'ai, Murphy, Ferguson, Blackmore, Wood.

Wigan Warriors: Charnley, Crosby, Dudson, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Green, Hansen, Hughes, McIlorum, Mossop, A. Powell, S. Powell, Richards, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, S. Tomkins, Tuson.

Tomkins
Charnley
Gelling
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Crosby
McIlorum
Mossop
Hansen
Dudson
Farrell

Greenwood
Taylor
Powell
Logan

I'm guessing this will be the team now...

Logan Tomkins and James Greenwood replace Tuson and Sam Powell in the squad for tonight,