Moon will almost certainly be absent with suspension, therefore:

1. Zak Hardaker
20. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
12. Carl Ablett
5. Ryan Hall
13. Kevin Sinfield
6. Danny McGuire
8. Kylie Leuluai
9. Paul Aiton
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
19. Mitch Achurch
15. Brett Delaney

7. Rob Burrow
16. Ryan Bailey
21. Liam Sutcliffe
23. Brad Singleton

I'd go with that. Aiton played well ...additional reason for him to start.

I'd go for that too especially Aiton to start. Horses for courses selection, vs Wire in the cup I felt it was right to pick Burrow and try get off to a fast start. Here you feel a Wigan will come out fast and try bully us. Have Aiton out there first then introduce Burrow.

Kirke rested for the GF?

Anyone know the state of McGuire's ribs? Usually take a while to heal. May be tempted to give him another game, and have Burrow at 7

Let's be more specific and list the 15 players who will play on the day.

I'd be tempted to start Bailey or Singleton at LF, and start JJB on the bench. In fact if Ablett wasn't needed at centrre I'd be tempted to rest JJB all together. He looked particulary knackered last week I thought.

He said at the CC home-coming that there was nothing wrong with them. Not sure if I have taken his words at literal face-value (ie. they are totally ok) or if it was 'hard-man talk' ie. 'they are only broken - nothing major'.

Is anyone going to it? My student card expires in a fortnight so it is the last purchase I will probably make that I can get discount on. Am looking forward to it. I have watched some right garbage performances and defeats twice before at the DW though that was in the football. Hopefully Leeds do differently on Friday

If fit JJB will play as he is a key man and will likely be at loose again. He leads our fast line speed and kick chases and always puts in big effort in defense and taking the ball in.

Leeds are now 6th and have already secured an easy home play-off fixture against whipping boy SL rabble.

Shouldn't they be protecting what they've already secured by resting players and throwing the game?

Spoke with him after the Saints game and he said that the ribs weren't that bad and he'd defo be back for the Wigan game (his words not mine).

In comes zi German. www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23750.php#.VAcsR6NZiKU

In comes zi German. www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23750.php#.VAcsR6NZiKU

The next 2 weeks could be a big opportunity for Keinhorst, if he gets a game. Putting him straight in would be the path of fewest changes to other first teamers' normal positions.

I'd go with..
Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Keinhorst
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Peacock
Aiton
Bailey
Ablett
Jjb
Delaney

Achurch
Leuleui
Sutcliffe
Burrow.

I very much doubt Hardaker will be playing in this game. The pressure and abuse he's had to contend with this week will not be productive in terms of being able focus on the task in hand.
The outcome of all of this will also have a major bearing on our chances of further silverware this season - it's that serious.

I think we'll see Watkins or Briscoe having spells at FB on Friday, with a view to deciding who to put there for the rest of the season should the worst happen.

I was thinking about this earlier and actually considered the opposite. In 2012 when Wane tried his best to get McGuire banned for the playoff semi and in 2011 with the whole siege mentality "for all those who wrote this team off" thing. It could actually build that siege mentality again judging by GH's statement earlier.

Possibly, I'm not all that sure if that mentality would be successful against Wigan again. Quite often when we play them, when things don't go our way we turn into an ill disciplined rabble.

Wigan have showed how to rattle this side - Friday will be no different.

Leeds are a superior side on paper and if the game were just played out they would win at a canter. Unfortunately that is unlikely to happen as Wigan will revert to the usual niggling low ball tactics. The question is can Leeds keep a lid on it and rise above it all and just play rugby?

Leeds have put out a united front.

Zak's a rugby player who will want to play rugby, get him out there like business as usual.

I agree - He will be fired up to make a point

Quite a disruptive week for Brian Mac. He knows he is without Moon but he will have to have spent time on other options just in case we are without Hardaker too and will have spent time in counselling Zak.

I am sure he will have been trying to channel the anger, that must be felt at Headingley, into a positive response on the field. The problem maybe the players sticking to the game plan if we get some more bad decisions going against us on Friday. We must stay cool and start well.

If all fit I would start with Burrow at 9 and play Ablett at centre as it is expecting a lot of Keinhorst to step up the grades and hit the straps in such an important match - so Ward and Keinhorst to drop out.

I confess I forgot all about zie German..... How fickle am I?



The fact he is brought into the squad 'out of the blue' can only mean McDermott intends to start him as a direct replacement for Moon: maybe not such a bad thng as it keeps Ablett in the forwards where he has excelled this season.

I hope Hardaker can overcome the hurdle of his trial by twitter lynch mob.

Well it'll definitely be all eyes on Hardaker tomorrow night (if he plays)

He came back from the England thing at the start of the season like a man with a point to prove, however he had time for that incident to die down whereas he doesn't know his fate yet in this one.

Think it could go to either extreme, either MOM or have a complete 'mare.

Would he be stepping up grades? Hasn't he been playing for wakey? Not really paid attention to them for a while

I'm sure Zak will get a nice, warm, good natured welcome from the DW faithful tonight!