Hull FC v Bulls: Teams
Struggling Hull welcome back forwards Ewan Dowes and Peter Cusack for the home clash with Bradford on Friday night.
Last Updated: 04/04/08 3:34pm
Struggling Hull welcome back forwards Ewan Dowes and Peter Cusack for the home clash with Bradford on Friday night.
The Airlie Birds could also have captain Lee Radford available to face his former club at the KC Stadium.
Prop Dowes has been included in the 19-man squad after recovering from a knee ligament injury that has kept him out of action for five weeks.
His return is a welcome boost for coach Peter Sharp after he saw Paul King limp out of the 28-28 draw with Catalans Dragons with a broken foot.
Fellow forward Cusack missed the trip to France last weekend due to the birth of his daughter but will be back to face the Bulls.
Radford will have a late fitness test on his damaged ribs to decide whether he is fit enough to go up against his old employers.
Winger Gareth Raynor, who scored the late try to earn his side a point in Perpignan, is definitely available after overcoming a knock.
Hull currently find themselves stuck down in 11th spot in the table, five points back of the final play-off spot currently occupied by Harlequins.
They have at least managed two wins on home soil this season, defeating Wigan back in February and then toppling Wakefield 18-8 last month.
Unchanged Bulls
It's a case of same again for Bradford coach Steve McNamara as he sticks with the 19-man squad that tore apart Castleford last time out.
Full-back Michael Platt has still not fully recovered from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the past few weeks.
Joe Vagana and Glenn Morrison are also missing from the pack while Terry Newton is serving the second match of his two-game ban.
The absence of the Great Britain hooker means former Hull player Wayne Godwin will again get the chance to start.
Since their 44-2 hammering at the hands of Leeds on March 20 McNamara's side have scored a combined total of 82 points in two games.
They managed a half century against bottom club Castleford at the Grattan Odsal Stadium last weekend, winger Semi Tadulala leading the rout with a hat-trick.
However, their form on the road has been poor. They have won just once in four away games this season, their only success coming against Catalans Dragons.
Hull FC squad: Byrne, Berrigan, Burnett, Cusack, Dowes, G. Horne, R. Horne, Hall, Houghton, Lee, Manu, Raynor, Radford, Thackeray, Tickle, Tony, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Yeaman.
Bradford squad: Tadulala, Langley, Halley, Feather, Sykes, Deacon, Harris, Lynch, Evans, Hape, Solomona, Kopczak, Burgess, Nero, Godwin, Jeffries, Finnigan, Cook, James.