After definitely consolidating ourselves within the 'Super 8s' we welcome Leeds Rhinos whom if they lose are definitely in the 'Middle 8s'. Taking into consideration 6 days later we play Huddersfield again the quarters of the Challenge Cup.
We welcome Scott Moore after his 6 match suspension which IMO is the players that just makes us click, much quicker out of dummy half than both Howarth and Sio. David Fifita should also be making his debut!

I believe from A. Tupou (possible M. Simon hopefully fit though) we are pretty much at full strength however I reckon we will see a few changes, resting some players who have played a lot and showing signs of fatigue and suggesting that A. Tupou is the only real doubt my 19 would be:

Jowitt
Johnstone
Hall
B. Tupou
BJB
Miller
Finn
Anderson (Thought he played one of his best games for us today)
Moore
England
Kirmond
Ashurst
Howarth (Impressive defensive display today, he is more suited at Loose)

Fifita
Simon
Molloy/Annakin
Arona

If any players are carrying knocks I think we have enough depth especially in the front and backrow to rest them.

Jowitt (solid as a rock at the back and unshakable under the bomb today)
Johnstone
Arundel
B Tupou
BJB
Miller
Finn
England
Moore
Simon
Kirmond
Ashurst
Arona

Sio
Scruton
Anderson
Fifita

IMO I think we need another two wins to be definetly sure don't forget about Salford if they're appeal is successful. Leeds and Saints at home are games we need to target.

I'd say one game and I really don't think Salford will get anything back - it aids our cause further that the good Doctor can't keep his mouth shut - I mean rightly or wrongly do you think anyone at the RFL is going to support his appeal after his recent outbursts.

I think one more win may do it. Would love to go to Catalan knowing we are safe and win down there. Only seen 1 win in I think 5 trips but always the favourite away game

And why's that Mrs B?

Yep, beat Leeds next and Saints beat Hull KR and Hudds beat Salford it's mathematically done and dusted, next week. With Hull KR 7 points back with 5 games left & Salford 8 back, they'd both need to win 4/5 and us not to win another, can't see that happening.(promptly touches wood)

As for Salford getting any points back, agree. I think there's more chance they'll lose more, than get their points back tbh, which is something that could happen.

It would be great if we can equal our best SL position & finish 5th, which is definitely doable.

Daft as it seems Leeds who are bottom with 8 points could still mathematically catch us up, same with Hudds.2nd.from bottom also on 8 points. they both would of course have to win every one of their 5 remaining games and we would have to lose all ours. Wakey also have the 2nd.worst points diff. in superleague on - 103 with Leeds worst on -208. Beating Leeds at home on Friday night is still a must win game, we cant afford to take our foot off the accelerator pedal yet.

Hope we dont start as favourites, we've only been favourites to win one game this season (Hull KR at home) and we know how that went!
Underdog status suits us to a tee.

I think there are two debates going on here, factual v probable.

Factually all 4 bottom teams could overhaul us, especially capable are Salford and HKR and until that’s no longer the case we can’t rest easy.

However it’s probable that 20 points will be enough with IMHO only Salford and HKR remotely capable of bridging that gap with four games left.

I can see both Hudds and Leeds pulling a run together but not five games. It was considered amazing when JK won us four if I recall. Not that they aren’t capable but we all know how nerves kill at that end of the table and Leeds in particular have no recent experience of fighting for their SL lives.

Ditto HKR and Salford, both have a better mathematical chance but again a tall order.

We have our destiny in our own hands for once and a loss against Leeds won’t be a disaster but I’d be hugely disappointed if we don’t win. Not because we are that much better than Leeds but because this one should really matter to us on every level.

Does anyone know if those teams play each other in the remaining fixers i.e. four pointers. I’d be especially keen to see the bottom two play the higher up two.

The fog should hopefully have cleared this time next week.

Salford play Hudds next week at Salford.
KR still have to play Hudds and Leeds both at home.

Worked ou nice again

We didn't exactly get back to our free flowing best yesterday so I'm still cautious about saying we are safe.
However, I'm also inclined to think we are still capable of keeping 6th if not 5th place.

If we win our home games we pull Sts back and Pull away from Cas. The rest will take care of itself.
If we don't win any, we are likely to finish 8th and will feel like we got away with something because of docked points.

Beating Leeds is an important step to securing top 8 but that shouldn't be the final goal.
A cup run and a 5th place spot should be the target.

Wakefield Leeds h St Helens h Wigan a Catalans a Castleford h

Widnes Wigan h Leeds a St Helens a Salford h Catalans. h

Castleford Hull FC h Salford a Catalans h Warrington h Wakefield a

Hull KR St Helens a Warrington h Hudds h Hull FC a Leeds h

Salford Hudds h Cas h Warrington a Widnes a Hull FC h

Hudds Salford a Hull Fc h Hull KR a St Helens h Warrington a

Leeds Wakefield a Widnes h Hull FC a Wigan h Hull KR a
Those above are the remaining fixtures up to the end of round 23 and the split, do your own Phil Clarke and work it out for yourselves, there does not appear to be any team with an easy run in, and although were not mathematically safe the big thing in our favour is that we've got our points on the board already

Would be nice to beat Leeds on Friday so we could cheer Hull KR on v Saints.
Cas could go through the final matches without a win quite easily.

Why aren't we looking upwards? We are nearer the top 4 than the bottom four!!!

Castlefords finish is difficult.

FC at home- Loss
Salford away -loss
Catalan home - either way
Warrington home - loss
Wakefield away - either way

If we beat Leeds on Friday then we've beaten them 3 times in a row this season (including pre-season boxing day friendly).

Why on earth would you support Hull KR vs St Helens?

We beat Leeds
St Helens beat KR
Huddersfield beat Salford

Them results GUARANTEE us top 8 as it puts us 9 points above the bottom 4, with 8 points to play for.
Anything else is a bonus.

Because we could nick 5th place.

Beating Leeds would pretty much do that. Rovers beating Sts would give us a sniff at 5th.
If we beat Leeds, we want Leeds Hudds and Salford to win their games as they all play our rivals and are unlikely to catch us themselves.

KR at home
Wakey away
Widnes home
Hudds away
Wigan home
Certainly could and I wouldn't bet against it, maybe our last game against Cas might decide it, our problem is saint's better points difference.

I don't like Friday night games! Leeds play Friday, Friday and we play Sunday Friday. Salford away Friday and Hull KR Thursday the players don't like night games and short turn arounds.. I hope the confidence from a victory kicks in and we tear Leeds apart because we could do but as Wakefield fan you always expect the unexpected! Ryan Hall isn't playing anyway if that's a good thing

Don't forge the Friday night fixture change is at our request t because we've got Shudds int' cup the following Thursday.

Can't wait for Friday ,Get 30 on the scoreboard and have a good singsong