There's a break from Super League this weekend as Warrington get their Challenge Cup defence underway with a rerun of last year's final.
The squad news this week is dominated by the return to the fold of six players - Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Jason Clark, Joe Philbin and Matt Davis - who had missed the last two matches after track and trace results. Tom Lineham, of course, is not involved in the 21-man-squad and won't be for the foreseeable after receiving an eight-match-ban at the disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday. Sitaleki Akauola has not returned following his paternity leave and there is also no place for Gareth Widdop, whose mysterious absence continues. Here's my team for the match...
Full Back - 26 Matty Ashton
With no Widdop, Stefan Ratchford will continue in the halves, which will mean another run for Ashton at full-back. Can he come up with a game-winning moment like last week?
Winger - 17 Jake Mamo
Mamo has been in excellent form since coming into the side at centre. I expect that he will replace Lineham - who misses his first match of 2020 - on the wing for this one.
Centre - 4 Toby King
After filling in in the second row for the last two weeks, King will return to his rightful place at centre.
Centre - 3 Anthony Gelling
Gelling has been difficult to analyse for Wire so far as his game is so all-or-nothing. He played well against Saints earlier this year and it would be useful if he replicated that performance.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
There may be no Lineham, but Charnley will continue his run of playing in every game so far this season.
Stand-Off - 6 Blake Austin
For the third game in a row, Austin will have to manage the match from the halves. He has struggled against Saints so far, so a big performance is needed.
Scrum-Half - 1 Stefan Ratchford
Whilst I don't particularly enjoy Ratchford in the halves, I think it's probably the best option we've got at the minute with Widdop unavailable.
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
The return to the fold of Hill is a welcome one. His work will be essential in the battle of the forwards.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Clark is back after the birth of his child last week. He always plays well against Saints and is due a big performance after a solid, rather than spectacular season so far.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
Warrington's player of the season so far will be essential in this match as Wire look to get the better of the Saints big men.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Currie has been excellent since the season restarted and is a shoo-in for his spot here.
Second Row - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
I would shift Murdoch-Masila to the second row after an average showing at loose forward last week. He is a quick edge player who is most effective here.
Loose Forward - 12 Jack Hughes
Which means that co-captain Jack Hughes, also returning, should play at 13, where he performed well prior to being unavailable.
Interchange - 15 Joe Philbin
It's not just the starters who are bolstered by returning bodies. Joe Philbin will bring plenty of go-forward from the bench.
Interchange - 14 Jason Clark
Jason Clark coming back is big, too. He has quietly been very, very good this season.
Interchange - 20 Danny Walker
Walker will replace Daryl Clark in the late stages and provide pace and runs from dummy-half.
Interchange - 19 Matt Davis
Davis' industry and ability to get quick play-the-balls could be useful from the bench in this one.
I am intrigued by the approach to this match. The Challenge Cup is a bit of a free hit for Wire this season I feel - we are going well in the league and so if we were to get knocked out, there is the advantage of less fixture congestion, but if we did progress, we are in the semis with a great chance to win the competition.
Saints were unconvincing, like Wire, last week. The two teams are level on points at the top of the table, so this is a huge clash between the two in-form sides. Lachlan Coote is back to his best and with the remarkable form of Alex Walmsley, they aren't really missing Luke Thompson. Jonny Lomax is the most dangerous player in the league and I do feel concerned that our back line contains some defensively suspect players - Ashton, Gelling, Mamo.
I worry that the halves pairing of Austin and Ratchford won't create enough and I also feel that Tom Lineham will be a bigger miss than people realise - he has been so solid in both attack and defence this season. This, added with the fact that Wire haven't beaten any of the big boys on this excellent run of form, makes me think that Saints will probably edge this one, which is no bad thing for our Super League hopes in my book.
Predictions
Huddersfield to beat Wakefield by 6-11
Catalans to beat Salford by 12-17
Leeds to beat Hull KR by 1-5
St Helens to beat Warrington by 6-11
Wigan to beat Hull FC by 6-11
@ALooseWire
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