Hull FC v Catalans: Super 8s preview
Last Updated: 18/08/16 10:54pm
Hull will be going all out to secure a Super League semi-final berth ahead of the Challenge Cup final when they host Catalans Dragons in round three of the Super 8s on Thursday, live on Sky Sports.
Victory at the KCOM Stadium would take Lee Radford's league leaders 10 points clear of the fifth-placed Catalans with four rounds left of the Super 8s and keep them on course for the treble.
It would also leave them completely free to concentrate on their Wembley showdown with Warrington on Saturday week.
"It would be massive and that's the approach we've taken this week," said Radford.
"It's almost a quarter-final. If you get in the top four, you are one game from the Grand Final so to get two points tomorrow is huge for us.
"It's been our goal from the start of the season."
Hull are at full strength with goal-kicking scrum-half Marc Sneyd returning to the side after missing last week's 38-0 win at Widnes with a minor injury, and Radford has opted to rest only veteran captain Gareth Ellis ahead of the cup
final.
"Because we're fighting on all fronts, I don't think we can afford to rest too many," Radford said.
"If you rest too many, it sends out a message that you're not taking the game as seriously as you should be and usually when that happens it's when injuries occur."
Half-back Jordan Abdull keeps his place in Radford's 19-man squad after impressing in the absence of Sneyd, but looks sure to miss out at Wembley as the coach nears his final selection.
"I've probably got 16 of my team nailed down for the final at the moment in my head," said Radford, who is likely to choose from Jordan Thompson, Josh Bowden and Dean Hadley for the vacancy on his four-man bench at Wembley.
"There is still one spot up for grabs and and all three will get an opportunity [on Thursday] but I know the pecking order and it's going to take something special from one of the boys to change that.
"It's going to be difficult because there's a lot of players that have performed really well for us this season that are not going to feature and I'm going to have to tell them the terrible news that they won't be walking out at Wembley.
"That's not something I'm looking forward to but it's a credit to them for making my job as difficult as it is. I've been on the other side of the table on two occasions - I've been 18th man twice."
Catalans, who have three experienced half-backs on a lengthy injury list, are in freefall, having lost six of their last seven league matches, but Radford is expecting a stern challenge.
"Obviously, they're bruised and busted but they'll be fighting in every sense of the word," he said.
"They're scrapping for that fourth spot and they're going to come and want to give everything. "It's the fourth time we'll have played them so we're very aware of what they're going to throw at us. Hopefully it will be the fourth time we get over the line against them."
Hull FC: Jamie Shaul, Mahe Fonua, Carlos Tuimavave, Fetuli Talanoa, Marc Sneyd, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Liam Watts, Mark Minichiello, Jordan Abdull, Chris Green, Jordan Thompson, Dean Hadley, Steve Michaels, Sika Manu, Josh Bowden, Frank Pritchard, Kirk Yeaman, Danny Washbrook.
Catalans: Tony Gigot, Vincent Duport, Louis Anderson, Paul Aiton, Rémi Casty, Glenn Stewart, Jason Baitieri, Dave Taylor, Julian Bousquet, Eloi Pelissier, Greg Mounis, Olivier Elima, Fouad Yaha, Morgan Escaré, Antoni Maria, Jordan Sigismeau, Lucas Albert, Romain Navarrete, Ben Garcia.
Watch Hull FC v Catalans live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Thursday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.