To be fair id say you have to match Wigan for the first 80 minutes

You won that game against Wire by surviving their blitz in the first 15 minutes. It was a fantastic effort to keep them out and it both knocked Wires confidence and increased yours. It’ll be a good game on Thursday. It really feels like Hull have nothing to lose and the squad look in a good place under Andy Last.

If the performance v Saints is anything to go by then definitely but if we go back to the “old” Wigan from earlier on in the season his assessment will be right

That's why I'd have Smith on the bench incase we need a plan b, by his own admittance O'Loughlin knows his body isn't up to it anymore and for me it's too much of a risk having someone in the 17 who might break down after 10 mins.
I think the starting 13 picks itself and it would be two props Smithies and Smith on the bench.

Tough shout to leave Lockers out but ultimately it’s the team over any one person. I do however think Lockers will be involved on Thursday. Probably acting as one of those props/forwards on the bench

I doubt Lam will change his set up of four forwards on the bench now unless his hand is forced, so if it’s not then it would seem a really easy call to bring in Lockers for George Burgess. Lockers might not be about to long stints but I think he’d look in better physical shape than George sadly is even in another 10 years.

That seems to be the logical move for me. It’s not as if we’d miss much with GB not being in the squad.

George Burgess shouldn’t be anywhere near the 17
Unsure about SOL. Head says he shouldn’t play but heart wants him there.
I think Smith will be in the 17 so I wouldn’t be surprised if Lam takes a risk on SOL along with Clubb which worries me

I don’t think there’s a lad in the whole squad I wouldn’t put in ahead of George Burgess and that’s a sad state of affairs. We’re probably going to need 20/25 mins out of Lockers and I think he’s a great option to have on the bench. Guys like Byrne and Shorrocks may come in to the equation if Lockers wasn’t selected (which I can’t see being the case).

I think the bench will be Flower Clubb Smithies and SoL
I wouldn’t pick Clubb but Lam will

I think Lockers on the bench would suit Lam's preferred approach in that he provides the extra forward option and at the same time gives cover in the halves. My concern would be more that he might start him which I think could backfire. He's had little game time and that showed in the CC semi, albeit in a game where no one played well. Coming on as the bench forward when the opposition are tiring would give us an extra point of attack, a fresh solid defender whilst minimising any "off the pace" type issues he may have.

Given that the other options (Burgess, Byrne, Clubb etc.) are equally off the pace I think playing him off the bench would add something in attack without unduly compromising in other areas.

That’s what I’m expecting.

We know Wigan are hard to beat, but we have to think if Rovers can do it ,so can we. I just hope Hull continue to turn up 100%,unlike earlier in the season. As long as it is a good game.

I must admit that when the news came out a couple of months ago that 8/9 Hull FC players had been tested positive for Covid I thought that was their season over. I couldn't see them winning many games from then on. Obviously the playoff structure expanded from Top 4 to Top 6 which allowed them entry but at the same time they are going to be very difficult to beat. Fair play to them for that.

The pressure is all on us. League leaders, in good form, playing at the DW....etc!
However nothing is a given, look at last year getting beaten by Salford at home after putting in a poor performance against them.

If we play like we did against Saints then of course I fancy us, if we play like we did against Huddersfield it will be difficult to get the result. God forbid if we play anything like we did against Salford in the semi last year (or Leeds in the CC Cup Semi this year) then we will get beat. Forecast is showing dry weather Thursday which I think will suit us.