Always good to debate, but I agree with vastman and wrencat. There are a few reasons to rest senior players through the season, but in particular this game:

- Give all your squad a chance to shine and pick up experience. Players like Olpherts, Smith and Booth will be dying to play this weekend. You don't sit in the dugouts at a final without being determined to prove you should play in the next final. If they play, they'll play with intensity. And if we want those young lads to be SL players, we need to give them game time against good teams to learn. But I also believe Harvey Smith champing at the bit is a better player than Liam Hood after 15 games and an emotionally draining week. Maybe I'm underestimating Hood's mentality, but I think you all know what I mean.
- Overloading players' bodies. I know players have been rested and injured here and there, but those like Ashurst, Bowden and Atoni have played something like 15 games already. It's not about whether they're already injured, it's that you're increasing their risk of injury as you increase their load.
- The hangover. It is a real thing. It's very hard to replicate that emotional intensity the week after a final, and even top players underperform because they just can't get up for it in the same way. Give them an 11 day gap and they'll be buzzing to play again.

What I'm really trying to say is it's about medium (the business end of this season) and long term (next two years) planning. But also that I think a fresher team is more likely to beat Widnes away.

We have real luxury now of having a fairly large squad, players like Bain, Boothroyd, Booth, Smith and Olpherts will be pushing for a start. All good headaches to have for Powell

We've the chance of winning three trophies and going unbeaten this season.

That's a once in a generation opportunity.

Is there a league leaders trophy for Championship?

Yes.

Where do most of the away fans go at Widnes?
Their ticket web site gives 2 options:
1. Either reserving a seat in the South Stand, or
2. Buying an (unallocated seat) ticket in the North Stand.
(neither of the stands behind the goals appear to be open)

That would be great if they did. I'm holding off buying my ticket for a few days anyway, so would be nice if they announced something by the end of the week.

They've agreed to open up one end for us
They'll be on their website tomorrow tagged "Away fans"

Sorry but no. It’s a once in a generation opportunity in the second tier. If we have real ambition, then we need to forget about this comp other than getting out of it. We’ve had some fun at Wembley, now all we need to do is concentrate on winning the GF. Going unbeaten etc is a silly distraction imo.

I don’t doubt it would be an achievement, especially for die hard fans. But in truth, this time next year nobody will care. They will only care about SL.

I know you won’t agree, but due to the IMG element it allows us to team build, and for me that’s the absolute priority. Let’s also be honest here, a fair number of those who played on Saturday will not be here next year. There is a huge amount of work to be done.

Some may not be here next year but they are the rocks that our new found ambition is being built on.

Nothing about this season should be forgotten

Kind of with you, but to go unbeaten in the league would be an incredible achievement, I'm not sure it's ever been done? Leigh couldn't do it with essentially the side that went on to win the challenge cup and finish 5th in SL the year after.

We're not going the season undefeated (in the league). We make too many errors and give away silly penalties for that. Toulouse away, Bradford away, Featherstone at home. All these are tricky fixtures where we could come unstuck.

Let's revisit this at the end of the season, when we have finished the season unbeaten