"I still think Saints will somehow manage to get 3/4 bodies back and have a massive say in things."

Yup I wrote you off!

Saints have struggled without Dodd and a number of their 1st choice backline for a while. I'm not saying anything controversial here... your back-up backs just aren't very good (even your own fans have been saying it).

With Croft in the team Salford would be underdogs next week for a number of reasons.

1) Saints have won the last 3 GF's (I won't use the phrase because it's cringey AF! )

2) Saints are this year's league leaders.

3) The game is being played at Saints where Salford haven't won in almost 40 years.

Take into account the current form of both sides and you could argue a decent case for Salford to get a result..... instead of it being the usual 95%-5% in Saints favour you could reasonably say maybe 60-40?

However, with Croft now out that's a huge loss so I expect the bookies to give Saints a reasonably comfortable handicap advantage. I'll take a 25% chance though as a Salford fan as this team has mineral and backbone aplenty and we ain't just gonna roll over and hand you your rightful GF place. The Scousers are gonna need to earn it.

Wish they were Scousers, they'd be easier to understand as opposed to the flem ridden amalgamation of dialect they use.

Seeing as you're playing Saints at Saints, I wonder if Mr Wilkin's comments will play a part in your pre-match prep.

It’s such a shame Croft is out. Had he been available I think Salford could’ve got the job done but not now. I still think their spirit and class elsewhere will possibly take the game deep but Saints defence will be too good.

Whatever does happen, it’s been a fantastic season for Salford and one you feel they can build from. All their best players are tied down and they’ll add players for next season. It certainly doesn’t feel like that last GF appearance they had, when they knew they were losing a number of their better players after it.

You said Wigan are favourites and Salford second favourites oh and how original calling us scousers

Soz la.

That last quote was from 2 weeks ago.... you know that sometimes things change in life right? Salford have lost their best player and Saints apparently are getting 4 or 5 players back for next week. Given that will give them a huge boost and they have home advantage I think it's reasonable to now change my mind don't you?

Fair enough esp as Brierly and Lafai could missing too

Saints will win.

There is not a prayer that Brierley gets banned. It was a professional foul. No contact with the head.

I agree, Tomkins did similar a few weeks ago and no further action was taken, which was the correct decision. I would be surprised if anybody gets banned from Leeds or Salford- the rules seem to have changed.