While there is always the chance that the squad could change again by Friday I think it unlikely. As you intimate Holdsworth may have already declared himself unfit to play, family advice may play a part in the absence of any medical prognosis.

If we can somehow manage a win it will be all the sweeter, if we lose well it won't be a surprise

We could well be down in 12th place after the Easter fixtures (or for eternal optimists it could be 6th )

Tickle wasnt named in the squad against Warrington and i dont think Seymour was against Widnes

Indeed. Changes are made pretty regularly.

W're in for a complete bumming

Good to see a confident post....

Assuming there are no changes to the squad on game day, our first choice 1,6 and 7 are missing along with our star forward and best centre. Any team in the NRL or SL competition would struggle to win with an injury list like that. With this in mind, I will be amazed if we win this Friday. If rovers are not able to beat us considering our absentees then that would be very worrying for that team. If we get anything out of this game I will go home happy all things considered.

Pressure on the Red and Whites for this one, if they can not win by a clear 20 points against a super league side without any 1st choice half backs, recognised full back and star signing/captain they should worry.

Just hope we put in 100% effort and allow the fans to be proud of each players performance.

While you're weakened, especially in the halfs, not many will reach this stage of the season with a clean bill of health. You've got much better depth this year and you're at home where your record is excellent. The bookies only give us a +4 start, which isn't much bearing in mind our relative pre-season aspirations, but you're still favourites.

We're already a bit worried from some of what we've seen so far, but ateotd we'd (mostly) be happy with 8th and signs of improvement. We can lose on Friday and still achieve our goals - or not, we'll see.
Defeat would leave you needing ~13 wins from the last 18 games to come in 5th, going on recent seasons.

Nice try though.

Not worried at all about the game. We might be playing bad at the moment but they are bad. As I said in a previous post, their side is the worst since coming up with only dobson (especially) and patterson offering a concern. Our pack are far too strong and I think this is where we'll play it out and our backs are fairly strong in defence. I may get shot down here but I can't buy into all the gloom. With DJ and the rest cause it would be a lot better, but we are dealt the cards handed to us and I still feel they can pull it off. COYH

Would play Crookes at fullback. Has always seemed to have decent positioning in the games I've seen him play so far, and is very good at running the ball back so could do well there. It would also mean a back three of Crookes, Lineham, Briscoe, which is very pacey.
Whiting's good at fullback, but I would prefer to either keep him in the forwards or use him in the halves.

Crookes
Lineham
Arundel
Crooks
Briscoe
Whiting
Horne
Lynch
Houghton
O'Meley
Tickle
Westerman
Galea

Heremaia
Watts
Johnson
Pitts/Green/Bowden

Still not confident, though, as the team looks patchy in places.

I was at the Saints game and the one high ball Crookes had to take he dropped. Not a massive amount to go off I concede.

We're just second guessing Gentle really, if he sticks with Heremaia in the halves the FB slot goes to Rich Whiting, but if he doesn't then Rich plays with Horney and we've no choice but to play one of Tom or Cropokes at Fb and I can't see him changing that again, so reckon we'll see Briscoe still there.

By the way if he does stick with Heremaia at 7, I think PG must be watching a different game to us lot. I'm beginning to see why his previous UK stints were with leigh now. A replacement hooker at best. Thanks Mr Agar.

No doubt we are up against it.

However, even at full strength, stopping/restricting Dobson is key, always has been since he has played for them.

If we can keep our discipline, but get out the line at breakneck speed and consistantly put his kicks under pressure, I feel is our biggest chance.

Plus if he is carrying a dodgy hamstring make sure the shoulder goes into it hard in the tackle.

IMO they would have lost to Cas without him, stopping him is still key even with all our key players out.

I agree with him not being a 7, but I actually think Heremaia is a GOOD hooker. Unfortunately, he has never had a consistent run there. I'd like to see how many consecutive games he's actually played at hooker (either starting or off the bench), I bet it's not many at all.
I genuinely believe if Aaron had a good run of games sharing the hooking role with Houghton we would have one of the best hooking partnerships in the league.

IMO
Aaron has the better distribution than Danny, but no-one can dispute Danny's work-rate.

For mine,IF Danny can improve his distribution, he would be a GB hooker .