Like i have said for the last couple of days - expect Ben Crooks to be in with a great shout. Was in at 7am today doing jumping and wrestling before joining in with the team run and then a decision to be made but he is very confident

Sorry, I meant I was being picky that that wasn't a high ball, wasn't having a go. I know that was a fumble, and I would concede that he has hesitated a few times with a bobbling ball, but when jehull said he'd dropped high balls twice the only one I can remember him dropping/missing was against Rovers.

I would have played Horne at FB if he had had even one comeback game but I don't think we can throw him in after nearly 3 months out.

Shaul has done enough to deserve a place IMO. He has looked reasonably safe in defence and also adds to our attacking options when we are missing Crooks and possibly Lineham.

Exactly how I see it. If Horne had played against Salford I'd be all for him to play at Wembley.

If Horne's fit he plays for me,is still the best support player at the club,links into line well from full back and has the versatility to move into the halfs (as a runner to take the line on) if we need too.

I believe most would agree

Fair enough. Thought he was great against rovers and deserved his Sky MOM.

Ben crooks definatly in , what I've heard . Not so good regarding lineham though . I'd expect the back line to line up something like ~
Shaul
Ben crooks
Arundal
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Miller

I'm predicting O'Loughlin or Holdsworth atm.

think lineham will play, just a hunce no inside info or anything, be very very suprised if ben crooks is anywhere near the squad, but hey stranger things have happened

I've said before I hope they both play but I'd be surprised if Crooks and Lineham play tbh. It's a gamble going with one player that's been doubtful through the build up let alone two. Add in what seems more minor doubts over guys like Yeaman and Arundle and Gentle would be playing a risky game to name the lot.

If one player breaks down in the game a team can just about cope but when it starts getting above that it's mighty difficult to get a positive result.

I'm greeting the feeling O'Loughlin is a doubt for us but hope I'm wrong. He would be possibly the biggest miss we could have.

Shaul
Crookes
Crooks
Yeaman
Briscoe
Miller
Holdsworth
Watts
Houghton
O.Meley
Ellis
Tickle
Westerman

Heremia
Pitts
Whiting
Lynch

if horne had been fit would have played fb but after 3 months out playing him would be a massive gamble imo, if both arundel and crooks are fit its arundel for me ,

Ive just told you the team, horne 18th man haha

Personally I don't think it's about whether Horne is fit or not now, it's about the message sent out.
The thing I've really liked about Gentle as opposed to Agar is having a starter in each position and a back up, and when one is injured or out of form the other starts. Agar would shoe-horn half fit players into unfamiliar positions - including at the last cup final we got to - rather than pick a youngster in his natural spot. Gentle hasn't, to this point, done that and it's meant that people like Crooks, Lineham and Shaul have emerged when under Agar they'd probably all be kicking their heels in reserve while we shuffle round the same 13-14 names each week with four or five players out of position.

If we suddenly decide this Saturday that we're going to pick Horne at full back it rows back from everything we've said and everything we've done just because it's Horne and it's the cup final. It could be very damaging in more ways than one. McDonnell is our full back and when he's injured Shaul is our full back. Shaul has been excellent in the last three games and should not be dropped because our half back is sort of fit again but can't get in at half back. That's Agar-style selection and it doesn't work.

Watch Horne start and score twice now.