Grub, Gale, Griffin and Swift to be named in the squad.

Evans out with a minor pec strain.

Scott could be back next week. McNamara out at least another 4.

Even with Reynolds back, I'd stick with Lovodua at 6.

Decisions to make a centre. Does Griffin come straight back in or do we go with Mitch or Wynne?

I'd be tempted to go

Connor, Swift, Wynne, Carlos, Mcintosh
Lovodua, Gale
Sao, Houghton, Taylor, Lane, Ma'u, Fash
Brown, Satae, Griffin, JJ/Balmforth

Connor
Swift
Wynne
Carlos
Mcintosh
Reynolds
Gale
Sao
Houghton
Satae
Lane
Mau
Fash

Brown
Taylor
Lovodua
Griffin

Think it would be harsh to drop Wynne in Griffins return after recent matches. Would like to see Griffin slot into 2nd row and rotate Lane/Fash at LF. Ideally Lovodua off the bench to match Lussick who will come off the bench for Saints. Rest of the team speaks for itself.

FWIW, i dont agree with Gale/Reynolds coming straight back into the squad, but this is a realistic squad I can see Hodgson naming

O think it would be a big mistake going with Reynolds and Gale, both too slow and not great defensively. Our worst performance this year was with them at halfback. Also Lovodua wasted on the bench.

Connor
McIntosh
Carlos
Wynne
Swift
Reynolds
Gale
Sao
Houghton
Brown
Lane
Mau
Johnstone

Satae
Taylor
Lovaduo
Fash

Lovodua for Johnstone, Griffin on the bench, and I would go with that.

Whatever team he picks it's nice to be talking about players to leave out rather than who can play.

I don't get the fascination with playing Satae off the bench, he's our best and most destructive prop, he should be on from the start, Walmsley never starts on the bench for Saints.

yes i agree but its wrong to bring back players into the team at the expense of inform players.
The team selection for Friday will be interesting and we will see whether Hodgson is too loyal to certain players.
Swift should certainly be in the team,but to leave out either Connor Wynne or Mitch and bring back Griffin at left centre would be controversial as would the continued use of Johnstone

You have a point but in fairness i bet you could ask 10 people on here and properly get different 17 from each.Guess all about opinions

Yeah JJ done well but shouldn't be in our 17 when we have a good squad back.
Connor
Swift
Carlos
Wynne
MacIntosh
Grub(very lucky but think Hodgo will pick him)
Gale
Satae
Mint
Sao
Ma'u
Lane
Fash
Subs
Taylor, Brown, Griffin, Lovodua.

Unlucky on the like of Mitch, JJ, Bowden and Balmforth but them four are good squad players IMO.

Strong squad, going to be tough to pick the 17.

Need to give it a real go, I can't remember the last time we gave Saints a tough game in SL.

Unlucky on Shaul as well who has done nothing wrong in my book.

I’ll be very disappointed if both Gale and Reynolds are picked ahead of Joey.

Probably the cup winning years

We did them in the mist didn't we?

Probably getting ahead of myself here but the next couple of games could be very good for us, playing saints after a bruising semi v Wigan and then Wigan the week before their cup final game and then away v Wakey....could be a good couple of weeks for us.

I agree, with an almost full strength squad to go at we should be 2 out of 3 at least from these 3 games. 3 out 3 is very achievable if we are disciplined and and cut out the silly mistakes. Time to put our money where our mouth is i reckon.

We beat them five times out of eight between 2016 and 2017. Nothing since.

Thanks, 5 years without a SL win is pretty poor, I'm guessing we haven't beaten then while coached by Holbrook or Woolf.

Seems a long, long time since we beat them 47-18 away in the Cup in 2016 and then put 30 on them at home in the league a few weeks later.

The last time we beat them in August 2017 they were coached by Holbrook.

That cup game was excellent and I remember the scoreboard got it about face, FC won 74-18. Would love another result like those but still think we’ll grab the wounded lion’s tail and get a mauling, hope I’m wrong. I was so upbeat for the cup clash against Hudds. but as always we don’t know which team will turn up.

2 out of 3 would definitely settle for. COYH

Saints red hot fav according to bookies. 1/3 on.

Strongest side we've had for a while

Hopefully Reynolds/Gale in the half's

Lovodua at hooker

Lomax in the saints side with practically 1 arm gotta target him as much as possible

Is there any reason Houghton wouldn't start?

Linnet is now out for 12 weeks with the same injury as Lomax. I know Saints have already lost Dodd, but it seems a big gamble Saint sticking with Lomax who'll be playing on one arm.

I guess he'll defend at fullback but if not we just need to send as much traffic at him as possible.