Super League: Hull FC v Catalan Dragons preview
Hull have included new signing Garreth Carvell in their squad to face the Catalan Dragons at the KC Stadium on Friday.
Last Updated: 14/02/14 10:40pm
The prop previously played for the Airlie Birds between 2001 and 2008 but is now back in a black and white shirt after finally completing his protracted move from Bradford, who have confirmed they are taking legal action over the 32-year-old's switch to the KC Stadium.
As well as Carvell, new coach Lee Radford could also hand debuts to his other new recruits in Mickey Paea, who will go up against his brother, Lopini, Feka Paleaaesina, Jordan Rankin, Fetuli Talanoa and Jordan Thompson.
They have all been included in a 19-man squad as Hull look to bury the memory of their last outing - a 76-18 hammering at the hands of Huddersfield in the play-offs that ultimately cost Peter Gentle his job.
"That was our last game,"said Hull captain Gareth Ellis. "When we came to evaluating the season, our problem was the lack of consistency.
"We had some great wins - the ones over Warrington will stick in my mind for a long period of time - but then we had some really bad losses where our standards slipped.
"A lot of our training has been geared towards narrowing that gap and hopefully we will have a more rewarding year."
Revenge
The Dragons saw their hopes of reaching Old Trafford last year ended by Hull, so return to the venue of their last defeat looking to gain a modicum of revenge.
They did, however, begin the 2013 regular season with a victory in East Yorkshire, getting the better of FC's city rivals Hull KR.
"Everyone wants to have a big first game to get their season going and I think for us there is that little bit of extra spice because Hull did eliminate us last year," said newly-appointed co-captain Jason Baitieri.
"I think there is a bit of payback or a bit of revenge from certainly the Catalan boys to win this game. There is a bit more incentive."
Former Wigan prop Jeff Lima and Australian centre Ben Pomeroy will both make their first competitive starts for the visitors, but Louis Anderson is absent on compassionate leave.
There is no place for former New Zealand international Brent Webb, coach Laurent Frayssinous opting to instead select Morgan Escare at full-back.
Hull: Arundel, Bowden, Carvell, Crooks, Ellis, Heremaia, Horne,Houghton, Lineham, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Rankin, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Catalan Dragons: Escare, Pryce, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Dureau, Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Mounis, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Simon, Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Cardace.
Watch Hull take on Catalan Dragons live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 8pm on Friday