I would stick with Miski. Don't see a place for Partington in the short or long term other than as a back up - I still don't really know what position he could aspire to play in.

Bibby just isn't performing well enough at the moment to justify a spot. Hardaker/Thornley/Halsall should be our choice of centres when they're available.

I would still consider a French-Field-Cust combo in spite of Harry's good game yesterday. Agree that O'Neill should get his chance but too much to ask for him to play 80 minutes. Maybe bring Smith off the bench and move Cust to hooker for a spell?

Partington I think has shown where he will be useful in the longer term these past couple of months and also where he probably won’t be. I think he lifted us in and around that Catalans defeat. He has so much desire and he was flying in to tackles, leading our kick chase and being aggressive and we needed it. On the flip side he’s just far too easy to handle for a team like Saints and in other big games where teams will play with a real intensity. So that leaves him with the role of being a back up player and one you get in to the side to cover injuries, gives rests or when you just feel the energy of the side is a bit down.

Is he going to be happy with that? I’m not sure but he does give you the sense he loves playing for Wigan, so maybe he will. His best position if he were to play every week is at loose forward IMO and probably as one who plays for 80 mins but he’s not going to get that role here.

Be interesting to see if Peet has it in him to drop Bibby, he has been under performing for a while but I just can’t see it happening.

I actually like Partington, it's just i like Smithies more (he's having a cracking season is Morgan).

Partington, like you said, deserves to be in a side that will play him for 80 mins, every week. He'll thrive if he gets that. I could see him being a bit of a cult hero at a side like Wakey, much like Kirkmond was a few years back.

Longer term at Wigan tho, he's backup at best. You then have to factor in Nicholson (a player most seem to really rate) and McDonald, who's got a bit more natural size. Bateman and Faz aren't going anywhere and I'm hoping Smithies isn't too.

Yes - great workrate, great attitude, solid player - can't knock him for not getting the best out of himself. But I don't think you want his name on the teamsheet in a big game.

1 - French
2 - Marshall
3 - Thornley
4 - Halsall
5 - Miski
6 - Cust
7 - Field
8 - Singleton
9 - O'Neill
10 - Ellis
11 - Farrell
12 - Bateman
13 - Shorrocks

14 - Byrne
15 - Havard
16 - Mago
17 - Isa

What I thought we have missed lately is a proper 13 to link up the halfbacks when handsing it across the pitch. Shorrocks could be that man.

No point risking any player carrying an injury, we have got far bigger fishes to fry.

I think there could be a future for Shorrocks at 13 for Wigan, but probably not yet.

If he fill out a bit he definitely can be a ball playing 13. Hopefully Lockers can developer his game. Regardless the lad has a future in this team, really rate his game.

Really interested in seeing how the hooker situation solved, I like many would want a straight swap with O’Neill.

The outside backs would be interesting if Marshall, Thornley and Hardaker are back in contention.

I would drop Bibby.

Wouldn't drop Bibby personally, would just put him back on the wing.

Bibby
Zak
Thornley/Halsall
Marshall/Miski

That obviously means French has to move into the halves and I'm not sure we will do that. If we are persisting with him on the wing then I guess Bibby would have to miss out.

The problem with that is that two of Smith, Thornley or Hallsall would have to miss out to accommodate Bibby and he hasn't played well enough recently to deserve that.

He hasn't no, but I don't see him as a centre personally and think he has earned enough "points" with his performances on the wing (his worst performances for us have come at centre) in the last two seasons to warrant another go.

Seems like the options to cover Powell’s absence are a 1,6,7 and 9 of-

1-Field, Cust, Smith and O’Neill

2-Field, Cust, Smith and Shorrocks

3-French, Field, Smith and Cust

Maybe add in swapping French and Field but I wouldn’t do that personally. Tommy obviously comes in for Smith as and when he’s ready and that might give you another option.

I’d probably go with option 1 but option 3 would be brave and very interesting to see and it could pay off handsomely over the season. I’d just be nervous about moving Field from fullback given his form. In all honesty I think we will see option 2 but that’s a really conservative choice and something we should avoid. I look at that semi in a couple of weeks and Saints would pick that second option all day long.

I really like the idea of essentially having two full backs when on the attack in the opposition half. French to move off his wing and roam around alongside Field. As we saw against Wakefield having both in the attack side by side can cause panic and mayhem.

Salford at home is another game where you would expect us to get similar performances, if we can put on another big score then it goes well towards building a good points difference.