1. Paul Wellens, 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Michael Shenton, 4. Sia Soliola, 5. Francis Meli, 8. Josh Perry, 9. James Roby, 10. James Graham, 12. Jon Wilkin, 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 18. Matty Ashurst, 21. Shaun Magennis, 22. Jamie Foster, 24. Tom Armstrong, 27. Nathan Ashe, 28. Thomas Makinson, 29. Scott Hale, 32. Joe Greenwood, 33. Warren Thompson.

The match kicks off at 5pm and the referee is Thierry Alibert.

Missing Pryce, Eastmond, Puletua, Lomax, Gaskell, Wheeler, Moore, Flannery, Clough, Dixon. (may have missed some)

1. Paul Wellens,
2. Ade Gardner,
3. Michael Shenton,
5. Francis Meli,
22. Jamie Foster,
12. Jon Wilkin,
28. Thomas Makinson,
8. Josh Perry,
9. James Roby,
10. James Graham,
4. Sia Soliola,
18. Matty Ashurst,
21. Shaun Magennis,

15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook,
24. Tom Armstrong,
27. Nathan Ashe,
29. Scott Hale / 33. Warren Thompson (need another forward on the bench)

Can nearly make a first choice side out of the injuries!

Lomax,
Pryce,
Dixon,
Flannery,
Wheeler,
Gaskell,
Eastmond,
Puletua,
Moore,
Frodsham.
Clough,

Not as bad as i thought! Wello back is a huge boost.

Are a few of these in but with late fitness tests?

I'd stick Wello at scrum half I think. Played there before and asking Makinson to play there is possibly a bit much for a young lad. If Eastmond or Lomax was fit I'd quite fancy us I think. Graham will play near enough the full 80 along with Robes and the three quarter line is strong enough. Back row and bench look a little lacking in power though.

Ten First teamers out! This injury situation is getting beyond a joke. Flannery and Eastmond lasted five minutes into their comebacks then.

1. Wellens
2. Gardner
3. Shenton
4. Meli
5. Foster
6. Ashe
7. Wilkin
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Perry
11. Soliola
12. Ashurst
13. Magennis

LMS
Makinson
Hale
Thompson/Greenwood

This could well be a week to much for our depleted squad?

Fingers crossed and all that

Is there even a half back left in that squad, the only guy who I can see from the Saints site is Nathan Ashe , " who can also play standoff"


lol

27. Nathan Ashe
2. Ade Gardner, 3. Michael Shenton,
5. Francis Meli, 22. Jamie Foster,
1. Paul Wellens, 12. Jon Wilkin,

8. Josh Perry, 9. James Roby, 10. James Graham,
4. Sia Soliola, 21. Shaun Magennis,
15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook,

18. Matty Ashurst, 28. Thomas Makinson, ?????

Hale greenwood or thompson could be any of these 3?????

I've put LMS as a starter at loose as Royce seams to like that formation.

But it will be a 70 - 80 minuter probably for Graham, with Perry and LMS rotating.

The pack has been holding up for weeks but this is pushing it just a little bit.

i did think that Ben Karalius might have got a call up

Yeah Ashe or Wellens at half back. Question is who covers when he goes off after 15 minutes?

Makinson could cover FB if either go off, however if anyone else gets a knock we could be struggling big time.

I would not be surprised to see Meli take a shift in the back row at some point, or at least get involved more than usual from centre, as it is asking an awful lot of debutant juniors (Hale/Thomson/Greenwood) to play long spells against Hudds monster pack.

June is a crucial month in terms of where we are going to finish in the table, bearing that in mind I'll settle for a spirited and commited performance and no more injuries, anything else from this game is a bonus, I'd certainly take another draw right now.

You!

What injury has Puletua picked up?

It's a common condition called, "I've signed the last contract of my career syndrome".

Agreed. June will be critical as you say. Meli has to get through a hell of alot more work than he has done in recent weeks. He is big enough to play in the back row and its about time we saw some hard work from him.

Didn't Graham have a rest last week, Maybe Royce has decided he can only push those playing with knocks so far without risking worsening those injuries.

TP and Graham have had alot of game time whilst carrying knocks. You win nowt at this point in the season and with the CC being 2 weeks apart, followed by the exiles game 3 weeks later, this maybe the part of the season where Royce has decided to spell those who have had to carry this injury hit team over the last few months

Royce said he had 'bumps and bruises' before the Sheffield game, which is why he missed the Sheffield game.

Flannery didn't last long, did he?

Only insofar as he didn't play as many minutes as he usually does!

Sorry missed the game last week, guess it was TP who missed it

Puletua missing is the biggest injury blow for us. He's such a big player for us, his presence will be badly missed and it will put more pressure on the three 1st choice props.

The half back problems are obvious and quite unbelievable. We literally have no natural half backs available to us and we're having to use players who don't play there. That's why you'd assume Wellens will line up alongside Wilkin, as they are both very experienced players who can adapt better than a young lad.

As for the team:

28. Thomas Makinson
2. Ade Gardner
3. Michael Shenton
5. Francis Meli
22. Jamie Foster
12. Jon Wilkin
1. Paul Wellens
8. Josh Perry
9. James Roby
10. James Graham
4. Sia Soliola
18. Matty Ashurst
21. Shaun Magennis

As for the bench - LMS will definitely get a spot. After that I have no idea. Armstrong or Ashe as the replacement back and two of the other forwards.

Wellens
Gardner
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Ashe
Wilkin
Graham
Roby
Perry
Soliola
Ashurst
Magennis

LMS
Makinson
Hale
Greenwood

I think that looks like our team for Saturday.

If Royce does use Hale and Greenwood, what a baptism of fire for them!

Of course there is the option to push Meli into the 2nd row and have makinson play centre.

Anyone want to start a meli for half back thread????