If that does happen(and I hope it's possible) I hope he'll have passed every fitness test they do with him with flying colours. We need to make sure he's 'fully' fit because chancing going down to 16 men in this game would be silly imo when Ben Cross is sat in the stands.

Madge has declared him fit today so it's a no brainer for me. Keep the 4 props who ripped Stains a new one.

I do agree with you. However I do believe the experience of Deacon plus the partnership he has developed with Finch needs to be used from minute 1. Let Micky Mac come on after 20-25 minutes and mix it up then.

Whatever happens, in Madge we trust.

If he's fully fit he plays without question. He's been fantastic this season and as you say those 4 ripped Saints forwards to shreds.

Get that hamstring tested to the max these next few days to make sure.

As I said i'm happy either way.

I can see the sense of letting Micky Mac knock lumps out of people early doors though.

This. Apart from if Paul Prescott is 100% fit (or as close as he can get to it) then he plays instead of Ben Cross.

Cross plays for me over Prescott, need all that experience and grit against a very big and tactful Wire pack.

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. J. Tomkins
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Finch
7. Leuluai
8. Coley
9. McIlorum
10. Lima
11. Hoffmann
12. Hansen
13. O Loughlin

14. Mossop
15. Prescott
16. Deacon
17. Hock

this except Cross for Precott if he isnt fit.

I said this on a different thread and i know nobody agrees but I'd still go with Fielden instead of Cross. I know it might seem like a risk but if he's fit I'd play him even though he's not played for four months. He's too good to leave out for me!
The backs pick themselves but my pack would be
Lima
Tommy
Mossop
Hoffman
Hansen
Lockers.

Bench would be
Fielden
Hock
Micky mac
Coley.

If Cross doesnt play then Prescott does. Far too soon and too big a game for Fielden to come back in. Guess we'll see him getting some gametime over the next few weeks against Hull, Bradford, Salford (hopefully the cup semi in there as well

), but for this weekend we need 4 fully match fit props to face Wire.

Fielden will play in the under 20s this week, not a chace he'll be risked for this, it will be the most pyhsical game of the season.

Wigan suddenly have a very good bench, Hock makes a MASSIVE difference to your squad IMO and Cross was a canny signing.

Can't wait to see Hock rip into the cons in the 4N.

He's got Jamie Jones-Buchanan keeping him out of the squad though!

He won't at the end of the year, mark my words.

FWIW, I think JJB has been impressive in a terrible Leeds side from what I've seen, no issues with his selection really.

You'd hope so. Though you never know with McNamara! I know he's not the worst player in the world but he's not in the same class as Ellis, Westwood, Hock etc.

Leuluai can do the exact same job as McIllorum however Tommys distribution is miles better! Macca was very poor against wakey on friday. However, in the grand final last year he started over riddell and it worked! Not long to wait and see what madge goes with anyway now. I'm feeling like I did grand final week, confident we can do the job!

Micky Mac is a must on the bench for me we all know wire's bench wont be their strongest so let him come on and smash them up

We all know it's going to be rough from the off let it calm down again then send the pitbull on

Start them both with Tommy at 7, McIlorum will get stuck right into Monaghan and let Tommy run at them from first reciever.

I favour this.

S.Tomkins
J.Charnley
J.Tomkins
G.Carmont
P.Richards
B.Finch
T.Leuluai
J.Lima
M.Mcllorum
L.Mossop
R.Hoffman
H.Hansen
S.O'loughlin

Bench...

P.Deacon
P.Prescott / B.Cross
A.Coley
G.Hock

I like the idea of starting with Micky Mac and giving him the sole purpose to get straight into the face of Monaghan and the rest of the Wire pack. He could quite easily come off after 10-15 mins as soon as the bruising start eases a little.

I think Lima and Mossop deserve to be our starting props, they've been our best so far this year and work well as a combo. Lima brings the energy and non stop work and Mossop adds the big metre making runs. I'd go with Prescott on the bench as he deserves it, he's been top quality so far this year thats only if he's 100% fit with no chance of an injury reaccurance.

Whatever starting 13 or 17 we play, I'm becoming increasingly confident. We have so many options available and an amazingly strong squad - as can be seen that despite Tuson being injured Faz is not featuring in hardly any 17 mentioned here.

We shouldn't take risks with injured players, but it is so difficult to ascertain whether Fielden is "fit". I'd go with Prescott if his hamstring is definitely 100%, otherwise Cross

start with Mossop, Coley on bench
replace Cross with Prescott (unless hes injured)
still debating hock/hansen to start.

apert from that.......i agree

I want Liam Farrell in my 17 desperately however our competition for places is so strong I don't think he'll be picked. In my opinion 4 props is an absolute MUST so he would have to displace one of the second rowers to get a spot on the bench. With Hansen, Hoffman and Hock we have 3 quality back rowers so unfortunately he may miss out despite not doing anything wrong. Therefore my starting line up would be.

S Tomkins
Richards
Carmont
J Tomkins
J Charnley
Deacon
Finch
Lima
McIllorum
Mossop
Hansen
Hoffman
O'Loughlin

Coley
Prescott
Hock
Leuluai

Against wire we need aggression, for once, that means Cross!!!!