Hughes is really struggling. His handling was appalling today again I thought and he just doesn't look focussed enough.

I'd go-

Bowen
Manfredi (great test against Hall)
Goulding
Sarginson
Burgess
Green
Smith
Taylor
McIlorum
Clubb
Farrell
Bateman
Lockers

Subs
James
Crosby
Gelling (covering back row/centre)
Williams

Tough ask for us minus a couple of props and first choice outside backs but we seem to rise to these big occasions.

I think that you two show distinct signs of arrogance in your posts

It's confidence my friend, confidence.... We will leave arrogance to others...

You're not wrong. I think we may come up short here, would be a lot more confident if Flower was available. As it is we'll be pushed into running with Sutton and James as two of our four props (hopefully not both at the same time)

I'd sooner play a Leeds side without Burrows than with him in a SF or Final, thats not arrogance thats choosing the best time to play Leeds. Troll on

First off it's Burrow, secondly, that's not what you said is it? You said he was the only player in the Leeds side that scared you, thus implying that you think the rest of them are quite ordinary. I don't think it's trolling to suggest that saying that (or that Leeds are 'a very solid outfit at best') is a touch arrogant.

I think Dudson will probably come back in after his ban, but he really needs a vastly improved performance from what we've seen from him recently. I guess it'll be something like:

Bowen
Manfredi/Sarginson
Goulding
Sarginson/Gelling
Burgess
Green
Smith
Taylor
McIlorum
Crosby
Farrell
Bateman
O'Loughlin

Dudson
Clubb
James
Powell/Williams

well they definitely have no Burrow, and back up hookers out too (Aiton)...speculation is that Sinfields playing at 9.
Thoughts?

Leeds have top quality across the park - their backline is the best Super League has seen in years and they are clear favourites for the title in my eyes.

Think it'll be a good close game but I doubt whether we'll be able to cope with them out wide with an inexperienced backline.

I think we'll struggle. Wide defence has been poor all year and will be in for a tough evening against Leeds. I'd feel more confident with Flower and Pettybourne mixing it up in the middle.

i hope we play a sliding defence because when we do we look solid, when trying to rush from out and in we get get caught all the time. 2nd half against huddersfield and saints.

I'm looking forward to this one. Should be some tasty hits up front, and it'll be interesting to see how wigan's underrated but very effective backline matches up against our supposed superstars.

I expect wigan to attack with structure and pace isolating leeds on the fringes and creating space for sarginson et al. Whilst leeds will be disorganised and ruddlerless in the centre with mcguire and sinfield looking lost.

I think wigan by 6, with a brace of tries from burgess.

Interesting tactics from Leeds this year, they look to be going all out in every game with a pretty unchanged team. Popular belief from Wigan, Hudds and Wire in recent seasons suggests that this tactic will come unstuck.

Thats a lot of assumptions, that wouldnt stand up in a court of law....

We've rested more already this year than we probably did in 2011, 2012 and 2013 combined.

The only thing i can think is that mcdermott is trying to secure a good enough position early so leeds can spell their key players in the build up to the playoffs, in much the same way wigan did last year, if we remember last year wigan stormed to the top of the league and were the dominant team in the first half of the season. I'm not sure what consensus i'd take from wire or hudds fans as they've both won 0 grand finals, warrington failing with both approaches (one in 2011, then another in 2012+2013). Whereas leeds won back to back titles in 11 and 12 pretty much playing their best team week in week out (including runs to the CC final) and sucking for half the season.

It doesn't seem that theres one guaranteed formula, every season now seems to throw up a new anomaly (such as wigan winning from 4th last season, a position previously considered doomed).

The last time they had hooking problems, they took a player on loan that guided them to the title (Lunt). I don't think Sinfield will play 9.

These have been wonderful games in recent years, and I expect this to be the same. I think we will play them 5 times, and would back us to win 3 of those. We have done well against them in recent years, but they have certainly had their moments each year.
I think we have a better pack these days, even without Flower and Pettyborne. They rely very heavily on a very old pair of front rowers. Our youth and vigour will prevail at some point.
I hope we will win, but I am sure it will be close. Whatever the result, we shall meet again and again before our races are run this year.

Only Blake Green likely to return on Friday, according to this on twitter.
philkinsella ‏@philkinsella 55m
Blake Green only 1 likely to return for Wigan at Leeds on friday

As has been pointed out, Leeds have actually rested and rotated more this year than in previous campaigns. The years we finished 5th was because we played poorly in the regular season, not because we fielded weakened teams.

This year JP and Delaney have been rested, Sinfield has come off the field when matches have been won, Watkins, Hardaker, BJB and Briscoe have been rotated and so on. In previous years McDermott has just put out his strongest available names each week. This year there's been a realization that we (like Wigan) can take out a couple vs the bottom half and still win. In the last few years we probably haven't been playing well enough to do that.

On hooker, I'd fully expect Sinfield to play 9 vs Wigan. He was playing 9 even when Burrow was on the pitch vs St Helens. Academy hooker Robbie Ward will doubtless feature at some point over the next few months but maybe not yet. The question is whether Liam Sutcliffe will slot straight in at half-back or whether Hardaker will play stand-off with BJB coming in at fullback.

well don't like our chances if we go in with Lockers and macca missing and 2 of the 4 props out injured

McIlorum and O'loughlin is fit and back according to Shaun, he was only talking about the truly injured players i think. Sounds like Sarginson has kept his place as well.

Waney also mentioned Goulding possibly included too.

Anybody know anywhere decent to park? First time travelling over by car so no idea where to park.

Don't mind a fair walk to the ground if need be.

I think if BurrowS was playing yesterday Leeds might have won....