Super League: Hull KR v Hull FC preview
Last Updated: 17/07/15 8:44pm
Gareth Ellis and Mark Minichiello both come back into Lee Radford’s 19-man Hull FC squad for Friday night's Hull derby.
The two Hull sides will do battle at the KC Lightstream Stadium in an eagerly-anticipated derby that promises to deliver in front of a big crowd.
This week Hull KR announced that the attendance at the game would break the previous attendance record for a home derby, with more fans having purchased tickets for Friday's game than the 10,250 who did so in 2011.
The game has added importance, with top-eight places on the line. Should Hull KR lose they will drop out of contention for the top eight, while a win for the Robins would take them to equal points with their neighbours with one round remaining.
Captain Ellis and Australian second-rower Minichiello have been two of the Black and Whites’ star players so far this season, but Ellis missed out on the Castleford win with a back injury, while Minichiello spent two weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury. Jamie Shaul and Curtis Naughton have made way for the pair.
Brad Fash, who impressed in his Super League debut last week, has retained his place in the squad while Mickey Paea will not feature after his appeal against a two-match ban was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Hull KR coach Chris Chester is able to call on influential forwards Greg Burke and Tony Puletua for the big derby.
The two are part of three changes to the Hull KR squad, with young half-back Matty Marsh called in as potential cover for Albert Kelly, who is nursing a knee injury.
I think both sides will be disappointed that we're fighting for that eighth spot," Chester said. "Both have been inconsistent.
"We've suffered a hell of a lot through injuries - we can't control that - so we're disappointed we're scraping for that eighth spot.
"We want to be one of those consistently in the top six. We're not quite there yet but we've a good group of players and I'm confident we can still do it."
Radford said: "Friday is going to be a huge game for us. How the results went last weekend has put us in a really good position in the eight."
Hull KR: Maurice Blair, Greg Burke, Ben Cockayne, Kieran Dixon, James Donaldson, James Green, Graeme Horne, Albert Kelly, Kevin Larroyer, Shaun Lunt, Tyrone McCarthy, Josh Mantellato, Matty Marsh, Tony Puletua, Liam Salter, Ken Sio, Dane Tilse, Adam Walker, Kris Welham.
Hull FC: Jordan Abdull, Josh Bowden, Gareth Ellis, Brad Fash, Chris Green, Dean Hadley, Danny Houghton, Tom Lineham, Jack Logan, Steve Michaels, Mark Minichiello, Leon Pryce, Jordan Rankin, Marc Sneyd, Fetuli Talanoa, Jordan Thompson, Liam Watts, Joe Westerman, Richard Whiting.
Watch Hull KR v Hull live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm on Friday.