Oh aye, nice relaxing safe home tie against Saints. While Huddersfield and one of Leeds/Warrington have a week off and the other of Leeds/Wire has a relatively easy home game against Hull FC/Catalans. If we think Hudds would beat us then we should be going for 3rd to avoid Saints in Week 2. I do think we'll beat Hudds though if we play them, or rather, if we can't then I think Leeds and Wire would also beat us, so we would have no chance anyway.

All this thinking about which results will give us a better playoff run-in is ridiculous. If we want to get to the GF, we are going to have to beat the top teams to get there. I hate the current playoff format but it is what it is. 4 wins and we're champions, let the rest of the results sort themselves out. I really don't think SW is preparing his team to lose on Thursday so we don't have to go to Warrington in week 1.

So why is playing Huddersfield better for us or Leeds?

We have drawn with Wire at home (should have won) and with a very inexperienced team were leading at Wire with about five minutes to go.
Leeds beat Wire at Headingley and lost to a last minute drop goal at Wire, as with Wigan Leeds had an understrength side.

Wigan lost both games v Huddersfield, and Huddersfield have beaten Leeds three times this season.

Agreed. It's giving Warrington a lot more credit than they deserve and is highly disrespectful to Huddersfield.

Play the kids.
Be sure the first team get over their bumps and knocks, such a massive thing to have healthy bodies ready for the playoffs.
Take the time with the first team to develop different plans etc behind closed doors. Give the kidsmore first team experience.
If we lose, I hate to say it but all the better, wire are considerably better than Hudds, a controversial comment but they're pretend champions, wouldn't be top if Leeds, Wire or Wigan wanted the league.

Beat Hudds then move on with our full team.