Big Stu to face the Saints on Friday. Hope he has a good un. You never know with the time hes had off and the grit and determination he has shown to get back could just be a blessing. Good luck to him.

This could go one of eithier two ways... Fielden has a blinder or his Wigan career is finished.

Very true indeed. Hope he has a blinder.

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/article/26086/fielden-to-face-saints?[/url

Former Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden will get the chance to play for a new Wigan Warriors contract when he makes his Stobart Super League comeback in Friday’s derby with St Helens at the DW Stadium.

The former Bradford Bulls favourite has played just one game in two seasons - coincidentally at Odsal in February 2011 - after being sidelined initially by knee surgery and more recently a torn pectoral muscle.

Out of contract at the end of the year, Fielden will face Saints a week before his 33rd birthday with one last chance to catch the eye of coach Shaun Wane as he weighs up whether or not to re-sign the former international for 2013.

“The ball is in his court,” said Wane, who will also welcome back front-row forward Gil Dudson, who has been out with an ankle ligament injury for the last three months.

“I’m going to have a look at them this week and make sure they are good to go in the play-offs.

“Before he got injured, Gil Dudson was probably the form front rower in the competition and he would never have got out of our team if he had stayed fit.

“I can’t remember what Stuart’s form was like the last time he played because it has been so long but he’s fit and strong and he’s been a great servant before he got injured so I’ve lot of respect for him.

“I am excited about how they will go this week.”

Fielden, who cost a record £440,000 when he joined the Warriors from Bradford in 2006, emerged from a lean spell to recapture his form in time to make a return to the international scene with England on the 2010 Four Nations Series trip down under.

However, he has played less than 30 minutes of Super League since then and Wane is full of admiration for the player’s determination and perseverance during his lengthy lay-off.

He also reveals Fielden, who made his comeback with Wigan’s Under-20s last month, became depressed during his enforced time off but believes he can re-launch his Super League career and has not ruled out that being with Wigan.

“What he’s done has been unbelievable, to turn up and train and keep that level of enthusiasm,” Wane said.

“It’s been horrendous, two years of not playing, I can’t think of anything worse. I’m glad I can give him a go.

“He’s spent a lot of time with our psychologist and he does look after himself. He’s the one of the best professionals I’ve worked with, with regards to looking after his body.

“And he’s not been through the rigours of Super League for two years so he’s fresh and he’s in great nick.

“If you look at him now, he’s absolutely huge and nobody can wrestle him out on the field.

“He’s under pressure because he needs to perform this week but he’s played in some big games so this week won’t be stressful for him.

“I just want him to run hard and defend strong. It’s quite straight forward what front rower’s jobs are.

“If he goes well in the play-offs, then we can sit down and have a chat. He’s a professional sportsman, he’s playing for his living.”

Wane is also set to give scrum-half Thomas Leuluai his first start for three months after he made his comeback from a broken leg as a substitute in last Sunday’s 42-36 win at Hull KR.

The Warriors will be presented with the league leaders’ shield after Friday’s game.

They'd both be in my first choice 17 if fully fit so it's great to see them back.

We need more from Mossop, Flower and Lima and hopefully this will put the pressure on them to improve.

Dudson was outstanding prior to his injury, he will only get better too.

Good luck to Stu. Just can't see him having enough time to earn a new contract. Swansong season back at the Bulls maybe?

That was going a bit far but he was probably the form front rower at Wigan along with Lima.

He was proving a real suprise package much like Hill has done at Wire.

I've said for a while now that I'd like to see Stu go out with a win at OT, but I can't see him getting too much game time after Friday.

Hope he has a blinder and shuts most people up on here. Not saying he will, but I would love to see it.

This.

+1.

Why should Fielden get a place in the play off team when Lima, Prescott, Flower, Mossop, Crosby and even Dudson have had more game time than Fielden this year????

Because on his day Fielden is better than any of the players you have listed, and to win the major trophies you want your better players playing.

Should Gelling get selected before Richards?

No but Richards hasnt been missing for the best part of two years!

At the end of the day if he was a million miles away from the level he needs to be Wane wouldn't play him. Fact is as said in the interview he looks after himself as well as anyone can do, his self discipline and the fact he's had no wear and tear for 2 years does put him in the best condition he could be after such a long lay off.

Wane must see something left in the man to play him, he's a winner through and through and he has experience, something all the props you mentioned don't have barring Lima.

We can afford to take a chance, so do it.

Fielden played last week. He did 45 mins game time in the 20's and looked the business. Now time for his first team return. What a boost, a hungry fielden playing for his new contract in the play off's. He is well and truely in the shop window and is playing for a new deal

But Gelling has played more games than Richards [ithis year[/i which was your initial argument.

Sadly we don't have a time machine to go back and get the Fielden of 2005

I'm not doubting Fielden's abilities or that even with his time out of the game he has something to offer, but that statement is certainly open to debate, especially given that having two years out of the game makes it entirely hypothetical, or if based on Fielden's form over two years ago makes it completely unreliable.

I'd be very surprised if right now Fielden was capable of being better than Lima and Mossop at their best, even if those two haven't been near their best for a couple of months now.

Surely it's just expecting too much for him to come back and be at his very best again? I mean for even the best players in the world it would probably take four or five games to even get close to their best form. His form during his last real run of games in the team was on a par with Mossop at his best this year (before falling away completely) and definitely not as good as Lima.

I didn't say he should. I said I would like him too.

After his efforts in 2006, and even 2007 which he has admitted was a very tough time for him personally I would like us to give him the best send off possible and that is winning at Old Trafford.

CP I agree with what you say, and perhaps I was being a little mischievous.



BUT with a fully fit squad I would have Fielden as ONE of the four props. He was blowing out of his backside for the last few minutes of his two spells in the U20's game, but I expect Wane wants a closer look at him in a "real" game.

I hope he goes well. Dudson concerns me in that he tires easily and then starts to give daft penalties, something we can't afford in big games.

Our strongest pack would have Lima and Mossop as the first two props. Lauaki as a third I think requires another big strong forward as 4th prop because as I've said a few times before he doesn't really create a strong pack but he plays very well as part of one. Fielden certainly fits the bill as that big 4th choice prop who could really help create a dominant front row.

Dudson can also do that and he's a bit hard to understand. His games for the under 20's this year have been quite poor in my opinion. He looked like a real liability. Yet for the first team he actually did incredibly well and very rarely missed a tackle or conceded penalties. I think with him there's perhaps the risk that if he's not 100% he'll revert to the Dudson that turned out for the under 20's.

Flower and Crosby for me don't add any real strength to the pack, especially if Lauaki and Farrell are in the squad because I just think the forwards become too lightweight and lacking in any real impact.

So for me, our strongest pack going into the playoffs would have one of Dudson or Fielden in it, so Friday provides a good chance for them to stake their claim and I think that's exactly why Wane wants to give them both an opportunity before the playoffs start.

Just too late in the season for Fielden to have any chance of finding any kind of match-fitness for this season.

If he has fully recovered from his injuries and after a couple of years rest for his body to recover then he will turn out to be a top player for which ever clubs he's at next season.

However, unfortunately, I fear that too much rugby at a young age has meant that his body is shot and he will be unable to string a run of games together in which to find his timing and form. A great shame as he was a great prop at his peak with Bradford.