With Silvarin already exerting one of the guys with bows, you can probably assume the others will use their archery ability (and thus exert to add 1 to the archery total each), if able. Recogizing their guys are likely to be slaughtered in skirmish, a smart Shadow player would probably take the guaranteed wounds from archery instead.
Beyond that, just think like the Shadow player. How would YOU try to get your licks in on the companions?