Thursday 26 September 2013 14:55, UK
Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor go head-to-head with their Super League play-off predictions...
| Round | Barrie | Terry |
| Round 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Round 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Round 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Round 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Round 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Round 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Round 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Round 8 | 5 | 7 |
| Round 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Round 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Round 11 | 6 | 7 |
| Round 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Round 13 | 7 | 5 |
| Round 14 | 8 | 7 |
| Round 15 | 8 | 7 |
| Round 16 | 6 | 6 |
| Round 17 | 5 | 7 |
| Round 18 | 8 | 5 |
| Round 19 | 5 | 5 |
| Round 20 | 3 | 6 |
| Round 21 | 6 | 11 |
| Round 22 | 5 | 8 |
| Round 23 | 10 | 8 |
| Round 24 | 5 | 8 |
| Round 25 | 4 | 3 |
| Round 26 | 8 | 6 |
| Round 27 | 7 | 5 |
| First round play-offs | 4 | 3 |
| Second round play-offs | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 161 | 164 |
Barrie says: I think this will be an exciting game but I also think there is only one winner, and that is the Wolves. The Giants haven't really been tested this season and whenever a determined team 'turns up' and gets stuck in the Giants seem to be unable to function. Whenever a team has moved up quick to cut the Danny Brough, Luke Robinson and Shaun Lunt triangle down it's like a dropathon where the ball is concerned. And that is exactly what Tony Smith will have coached his players to do. If a Huddersfield pass isn't clean it will be punished by sore ribs while the players tries to get the ball under control. If the pass to Brough or Robinson on the 4th or 5th isn't quick enough both the players can expect Exocet missiles in primrose and blue to chase them down with success. If the Giants don't take the ball on to at least the gain line they will be met with a minimum of three solid uncompromising Warrington forwards taking them backwards. As much as I admire how Huddersfield have been consistent this season, consistency isn't going to get you to the Grand Final...not against the Wolves anyway.
BARRIE PREDICTS: The Wolves are too strong, too fast, much more physical, have many more match winners and are far more battle hardened than their opponents the current holders of the League Leaders Shield and will win by 14 points.
Terry says: I think we have two fresh sides going into this game. Huddersfield may have played last week but it was a shocking performance from Hull FC. Huddersfield will be really motivated that Warrington picked them in the club call, they will have had it drummed into them all week that Warrington does not respect them. Warrington genuinely think they can beat the league leaders - and why not? They beat them three times this year and have the skills to beat them again.
TERRY PREDICTS: Richie Myler is back for Warrington and that is a huge boost for them - I think Warrington will win by 10 points.
Barrie says: I am drooling with anticipation at watching this game. It will be physical, exhausting and exciting, everything a semi-final of whatever competition is meant to be. The Rhinos really had to battle last week to defeat the Saints, the game went right the wire and the Leeds players will be mentally and physically jiggered. The Warriors have had a week off - not they needed rest but more importantly, their injured players have had an extra week to recover, and boy will that count. The Rhinos' experience at these stages of the competition will be important as the Wigan team will know that even if they are in front they will not be allowed to relax until the final whistle. The Rhinos have reached this stage and haven't had all the players playing well at the same time and I believe Brian Mac's team will 'click' sometime during the 80 minutes (or possible extra time).
BARRIE PREDICTS: The pressure will be on Matty Smith and Blake Green to outplay Rob Burrows, Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire and Liam Sutcliffe and I count that as 4 to 2 and it will result in another Rhino visit to Manchester with a win by three points.
Terry says: Leeds have performed magnificently right the way through the year and you can never write them off. They have quality in their squad although they do have some injury worries. Their youngsters have really stood up for the team this year and the senior men have been fantastic too. The leadership of Kevin Sinfield is absolutely impeccable and you can never question the integrity of Leeds. I just think they have run their race and while the heart is willing perhaps a couple of bodies are too battered and bruised to go any further. Wigan are fresh and have the likes of Sam Tomkins and Pat Richards playing their last game at the DW Stadium. They will not want to leave having lost their last game at home.
TERRY PREDICTS: I just cannot see Wigan tripping up at the last hurdle to make the Grand Final. Their coach Shaun Wane wants to do the double this season having already lifted the Challenge Cup trophy. It should be a brilliant game and I just see Wigan having a bit more towards the end of the game and winning by 10 points.
