I'd rather play them at full strength, i wish Pryce and all the top men were at full fitness and playing.

Hopefully Wello will make some uncharacteristic errors ,like Briscoe on sunday, and no doubt Graham will get a certain amount of abuse as always

Silly statement of the day, i know numerous stains fans, and also reading on here, keeping the run means as much to you as losing it does to us, and why wouldn't it, its a great record to have.

I think a lot of Saints fans, myself included, exhaled once Keiron had stamped his foot in your face again and thanked the lord you'd failed to win at KR. Beating you at Widnes really isn't that much different to a normal game.



Sure extending the run is a mildly amusing diversion but it's not a big issue.

Sure, there are fans who like to inflate their ego over such matters. However, in terms of 'the run' being of more importance to the coach than risking his best players for the rest of the season, it means diddly squat.

Saints fans celebrating each victory against us as if they have just won the Grand Final would suggest otherwise!

Last time we did at KR he scored against. i can see a basic school boy error,ruining it for us. Made by one of the more experienced 1st team players.

Lets Remain boyd by the fact that it is only a couple of players thats a doubt for them,several seasons ago names like long,cunningham,scully and Jamie Lyon would of been on that list,all danger men in their own right even though we never admitted it.!!!

If Wellens doesn't make it and Briers brings his kicking game, it will be interesting to see how Foster (who i assume would play FB) will cope. Seems very sturdy player on the wing but how will he do covering the whole pitch

Last time out Jonny Lomax played fullback rather than Foster, though I prefer Foster myself as he is better positionally than Lomax. So either could be covering for Wello if he isn't playing. If Simmons goes with the same team as last week, then Foster will play on the wing, Meli as centre and Lomax covering FB. Gaskell was playing at 6. I hope he gets another run there as he is looking promising.

The last couple of years have been very amusing for us.



Choke....choke..



and please don't embarass yourself and start harping on about history. You'll sound desperate like the Wigan fans did when you used to win trophies.

Its gonna be a tough game with saints 19 line up, something special is gunna have to happen if they play like sunday

Even though we usually lose i've usually felt confident going in to the game, this time i feel decidedly flat and have a sneaking suspicion we are going to get beat quite easily and Roby will torment us to death.

I don't understand your post?!



The two players are joint Captains and easily two of the three best players at the club. They've been included in a squad to play the double challenge cup winners and team that only narrowly finished 3rd behind them in the league, and fellow title contenders and you say 'Surprise Surprise'?



Eh?!



Still, I'm sure you're right... Saints must REALLY want to win this match!!!! (As opposed to the 26 other matches which they're really not that bothered about winning!)

I don't think you know your players very well. Trust me, beating Warrington means ALOT to the saints players. There are many examples of them playing against us carrying injuries that would have kept them out of other games.

Yes it does, note the badge kissing and over-enthusiastic celebrations from the Skints players. This is always a BIG match for them.



Will be the last time for Graham as a home fixture as well before he joins us for 2012.

Jeez... you Wire fans really do take the 'chip on your shoulder' to a whole new level.



How arrogant to suggest that a professional player would risk his career or season to play against you 'just because you're Warrington'. Have you even considered that perhaps (if there's even any risk at all) it's because you're title contenders so it may turn out to be effectively a 4 point match?!



I'm 100% sure that if Wellens and/or Graham play this weekend, they would've have played against at least 6 of the other clubs in SL, and that they are not risking life & limb just to 'get one up' on Wire.



Yes, had they have been playing Wakefield, Salford, Catalans etc, they may well have given them an extra week, but if they're pushing to come back 'early' it is because this is an important match in the race for #1 spot, and NOT 'because beating Warrington means A LOT to them'.

I have to agree with the above. Saints don't see us as the same as the derby they have with Wigan. Yes, perhaps in the latter stages of the KR record they may have gone guns blazing, but now I am sure they are basing team selection on the fact that we are rivals for the same piece of silverware.



Simmons isn't going to risk 2 key players for saints who aren't fully fit just because it's us. He will pick his strongest squad possible and mitigate any risk.

Unfortunately Yed I agree with you. We weren't great by any means last week and abject in Cardiff so it would require either a huge turn around in our form or a big drop in theirs for us to come away with the points. Our forwards need to totally dominate the middle for us to win imo and Saints pack isn't one that gets dominated by many.

Unless it's a Grand Final. Where they also often opt to play without half backs too.

I'm sorry you feel that way, but you are wrong. Got absolutely nothing to do with arrogance or chip on shoulder or anything. I'm not suggesting they want to beat us because I think we are a big club now. It's more about the pride they have in being able to keep the run going, no matter what we throw at them or what form / injury situation there is. In fact, I'm not suggesting anything, simply passing on something I happen to know from the players themselves. Sorry if that doesn't fit your theory but it happens to be true.

I think you've missed my point because that is exactly what I AM suggesting.



You're talking complete and utter tosh.



If you genuinely think that the fact Wellens & Graham could be playing at the weekend is 'more about the pride they have in being able to beat Warrington' and less about fielding the best possible team to beat possible title contenders you have a bigger chip on your shoulder than I thought.



I'm not saying they don't enjoy beating you. I'm sure it does mean something to them (more than say, beating Quins) but what you're suggesting is utterly ridiculous. I would just like to reiterate that I believe if they are too injured to play, they will not play. However, you're suggesting that the reason Saints are fielding a strong side, and 'potentially' 'risking' two star players is because of silly oneupsmanship over their 'local rivals' and pride in a record, and not because they think you're title contenders and this could turn out to be a 4 pointer is utterly, utterly ridiculous. You've lost the plot.

Wrong. YOU have missed MY point and therefore you have lost the plot. Once again, I'm not [usuggesting [/uanything. Just passing on what I know.

I'd like you to point out where I said that it doesn't mean a lot to the players? I said it may not mean as much to our fans as it does to yours.



In the post you have quoted I stated Simmons wouldn't risk them for the rest of the season due to pride. The only reason they would be playing is because you're title contenders. Nothing to do with a stupid run of victories.