Chris Chester makes two changes for Challenge Cup quarter-final
Last Updated: 25/06/15 8:45pm
Chris Chester has brought in two new faces for Hull KR's Challenge Cup quarter-final against Catalans Dragons on Thursday.
Prop Dane Tilse and hooker Shaun Lunt are back in the squad for the physical encounter against the Dragons pack at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
Aaron Ollett and Greg Burke are the players to make way as Chester rotates his squad in preparation for a schedule that sees his side play three games in the space of 11 days.
Chester said: "It's the biggest game we've had down here for a long time, since I've been here any way. It's an important game and an opportunity to advance into the semi-finals.
"It was a goal of ours we spoke about in pre-season, we wanted to reach a semi-final and we've got a good opportunity to do that. Everybody in the club is very excited about the game."
Meanwhile, Catalans are able to call upon hooker Ian Henderson, prop Julian Bousquet, back-rower Zeb Taia as well as Stan Robin in the squad.
Adding to the injury woes of the Perpignan side as they chase a place in the semi-finals is the forced exclusion of half-back Thomas Bosc and prop Jeff Lima.
They find themselves on an injury list that includes other key players such as Vincent Duport, Todd Carney, Willie Tonga and Michael Oldfield.
Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous said: "You don't want to miss out when it's the Challenge Cup. In 2007 we managed to get to the final and that's in everybody's memory.
"We have to learn the lessons from last year, when we lost to Bradford and also the year before when we lost at home to Hull. We have to learn how to win the big do-or-die games.
"It's two games from Wembley so it's so close but at the same time it's so far. I just want to focus week to week. We'd like to reach Wembley or Old Trafford in our 10th season but we have plenty of work to do first."
Hull KR: 1 Kieran Dixon, 2 Ben Cockayne, 4 Josh Mantellato, 5 Ken Sio, 6 Maurice Blair, 7 Albert Kelly, 8 Adam Walker, 11 Kevin Larroyer, 12 Graeme Horne, 13 Tyrone McCarthy, 15 James Donaldson, 18 Liam Salter, 19 Kris Welham, 22 Jordan Cox, 24 John Boudebza, 31 Shaun Lunt, 32 Dane Tilse, 33 James Greenwood, 34 Tony Puletua.
Catalans: 1 Morgan Escare, 3 Ben Pomeroy, 7 Scott Dureau, 8 Oliver Elima, 9 Ian Henderson, 10 Remi Casty, 11 Zeb Taia, 12 Louis Anderson, 13 Gregory Mounis, 16 Eloi Pelissier, 17 Elliott Whitehead, 18 Benjamin Garcia, 21 Julian Bousquet, 23 Antoni Maria, 24 Jason Baitieri, 26 Stanislas Robin, 27 Fouad Yaha, 28 Tony Gigot, 30 Krisnan Inu.
