5 days to go to the semi. Rovers are coming off the back of a 9 try drubbing and indifferent performances and Wire are cruising off the back of a 9 try crushing of Cas and some good recent performances. Form counts for nothing in a one-off game. Who would you pick to start?

Here's my 17:

Dixon
Mantellato
Welham
Horne
Sio
Chisholm
Kelly
Puletua
Lunt
Tilse
Blair
Larroyer
McCarthy

Bench - Green, Donaldson, Boudebza, Walker

1- Cockayne
2- Mantellato
3- Welham
4- Blair
5- Sio
6- Chisholm
7- Kelly
8- Walker
9- Boudebza
10- Green
11- Horne
12- Larroyer
13- McCarthy

14- Puletua, 15- Tilse, 16- Lunt 17- Donaldson.

I think the FB position is the toughest to call as neither Cockayne or Dixon played well last game. its more of a subjective choice for everyone. Although i think Dixon is the better attacking option for the position i also believe Cockayne is the better defensive option so i went with him as Dixons attacking prowess can be nullified against an organised defence & a good kick-chase.

i do like the Horne at centre choice in the 1st post though.interesting choice.

notice salter isn't in your teams, thought the kid on the times ive seen him played looks ok?, FB is a dodgy one as Dixon is so elusive but so dodgy defending,you shouldn't have got rid of s Briscoe lol,think you lot have a chance and semis are a great occasion

Dixon
Sio
Horne
Welham
Josh
Chisholm
Kelly
Walker
Boudebza
Puletua
Larroyer
Blair
Mccarthy

Green
Tilse
Donaldson
Lunt

Salter is not a good attacking centre and his defence in recent games has been found wanting. Horne has a knack of playing well at centre, can draw in the opposition and has a good one handed offload. He will stiffen the defence on our right, where Ben Currie provides additional threat for the Wire.

Lunt and Boudebza - neck and neck IMO.

The conundrum is at FB. We have coughed up a lot of points from this position in recent games, whether Dixon or Cockayne is the incumbent. Dixon has a couple of mistakes in him inside our 20 every game, can't tackle but has an X Factor. He is a game breaker. Cockayne makes as many mistakes as Dixon but organises the defence better and links up with the attacking line better, but overall no X Factor. Because of the occasion, Dixon for me, but hope the pressure of the occasion doesn't overwhelm him.

Can Chisholm play?

Apparently he can, although I don't know how.

I'm not sure a cup semi is ideal to try a brand new half back pairing though. This is offset with the advantage of Blair in the back row where he has been excellent.

Apparently he can he was sign before the deadline and he is French /oz so did not need a visa so i understand

Stan. Are you still with Dixon at Fb for this game? How do feel about Horne in the centres?

Dixon/Chisholm
Mantellato
Welham
Salter
Sio
Blair
Kelly
Walker
Lunt
Tilse
Horne
Larroyer
McCarthy

Boudebza
Donaldson
Puletua
Green

Not sure about the fb role, lets face it we dont actually have a full back in the squad. If it wasn't a semi I would definitely chuck Chisholm in but not sure Saturday is the time to be trying new things, even if the current plans haven't exactly been a roaring success.

Yes I'd go with Dixon. He made a few errors at Sts, but so did Cockayne. Both can lose a game for you, but only Keiron could win it for you.

Not a fan of Horne at centre, he gets done too easily by footwork. Much better in 2nd row. Stick with Salter for me.

Dixon
Mantellato
Welham
Salter
Sio
Chisholm
Kelly
Walker
Boudebza
Tilse
Blair
Horne
McCarthy
Bench; Puletua, Green, Lunt, Donaldson.

Blair back to what he does best, shutting down his side of the park. Dixon is too dangerous to be left out of what is likely to be a high scoring game.
Big punch required from Puletua and Green required after about twenty five minutes in.
Lunt to also then take the line on.
Chester has consistently saved our interchanges this year, we often go into games with six or seven left with twenty five minutes to go.
If we're in with a shout at that point, we'll win.

Same.

I'm not an out and out fan of Horne, but he's been exceptional this year, just turns up every week and does his job.

We shouldn't be playing him in the centre, unless we need to shuffle. It's a bit like when we tried to play Chev Walker at centre, just hasn't got the footwork to stay with those in and out type players.

IMO your best chance is with blair in the back row and chisolm playing alongside kelly. You need to score some points and defend better. blair will sure up your defence out wide and chisolm offers more than blair in the halfs. Bit of a risk but your best shot at winning IMO. Play blair at s/o and it weakens your defence and attack

Shore.

Dim wit.