Big miss,he has had his appendix removed hasn't he?my guess is he will be back for the play offs.

A couple of weeks recovery for Gale, he'll be back. We need to take full advantage though

An appendix? That's just an optional extra! In Wigan we rip a kidney out with our bare hands, and are playing the next week!

Them rugby gods at it again?

I thought a kidney removal was a 15 min spell in the blood bin....

I presume you are joking ?If you are serious thank god you aren't my doctor.

Thank God he's no one's doctor.

We'll see.

It all depends on the nature of it. The surgery itself will be okay for him to recover from, it's if it ruptured and did damage to other organs that it could have him out a bit longer. My moneys on him being back for the semi.

Fantastic!

Looking forward to it! Always enjoy visiting the DW (apart from the results usually)

Lockers out for us according to Wane at the press conference today. He's got a slight calf injury but should be right for Wakefield.

That's both clubs without their most influential player.

Suspect that we would've seen a lot more of this earlier in the season if we had the luxury. Amazing that in a season plagued by injury that Lockers has been not far off a constant!

Massive loss in a must win game. I'm tempted to say a bigger loss than Cas losing Gale as they are at least in a position where they can afford to lose this one. Everyone needs to step up their game although I'm not convinced even this covers for losing Lockers judging from previous games!

I Think you will win this quite comfortably you have more to play for.i can see us sending half a team then going full strength at home against hull next Friday in preparation for the semi

Wane has said he's a bigger loss for us and he may well be right. He's been unbelievable these past two weeks.

Would it not be the other way round? Go full strength against us to ensure a big name doesn't make the play offs, then rest the big names the week after with the semi coming up?

You are mixing up the pie kitchen with the blood bin.

I see your point but I'd rather not go into the semi under done like has happened to many teams that have had a week off before a big game in the past.

Inclined to agree. It never seems to help, wrapping your players in cotton wool the week before a biggie.

Ben Roberts is also struggling apparently and you'd be surprised if they risk anyone.

It'll be tough on Sunday. Cas look outstanding regardless of personnel and you get the feeling they aren't Wigan's biggest fans.

Anything less then our Saints performance (and intensity) won't be enough imo.

No Gale and possibly no Ben Roberts by the looks. We may put 2 youngsters in the halves along with rest a couple more is what I am being told. May sound weird but I kind of hope you do beat us. I would rather play Hull in the semis than you guys so would be happy for you to make 3rd instead of 4th.

Fine by us, Deal???

Our 19 as follows noticeable absentees are Gale (obviously) and Benny Roberts

18. Matt Cook
5. Greg Eden
34. Alex Foster
1. Zak Hardaker
11. Oliver Holmes
23. Tom Holmes
33. Kevin Larroyer
14. Nathan Massey
12. Mike McMeeken
9. Paul McShane
10. Grant Millington
13. Adam Milner
2. Greg Minikin
21. Joel Monaghan
15. Jesse Sene-Lefao
4. Michael Shenton
19. Gadwin Springer
35. Jake Trueman
3. Jake Webster