Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos: Super League preview
Last Updated: 08/07/16 7:05pm
Leeds coach Brian McDermott insists his players are still "pumped" despite their failure to reach the top eight.
The Rhinos' agonising 23-22 home defeat by Widnes condemned the reigning champions to a battle for Super League survival in the Qualifiers but McDermott says they remain in good shape as they prepare to take on Hull FC in Friday's top-versus-bottom clash at the KCOM Stadium.
"Everybody speaks to me like I've got a long-term illness and they're speaking to the squad like we've been given six weeks to live," McDermott said.
"It's not great what's been happening but we're in good shape.
"The players are keen, the players are pumped. To go what we've gone through and to have all the heartache this year yet everybody still believes and are part of a really strong group, that in itself is an achievement.
"We've got a task in front of us now to finish off the regular season to go into the Middle 8s in good shape."
McDermott will give a debut to hooker James Segeyaro while Jamie Jones-Buchanan will become only the 23rd player in the club's 126 year history to make 350 appearances for the Rhinos.
The Rhinos also welcome back Jordan Lilley, who missed last week's game with a shoulder injury, and Ash Handley, who was amongst the try scorers for Featherstone last Sunday on dual registration.
Brett Delaney could also return to action at the KCOM Stadium however Brett Ferres has been ruled out with a foot injury suffered against Widnes last Sunday.
Marc Sneyd is in line to make his 50th appearance for Hull FC after being named in the 19-man squad for Friday's clash
Sneyd is primed to chalk up a half century of appearances for the Black and Whites since joining the club at the beginning of the 2015 season.
Jamie Shaul, Liam Watts and captain Gareth Ellis, who all missed last week's defeat away to Huddersfield Giants, are all back in contention with Curtis Naughton, Jansin Turgut and Frank Pritchard, who picked up an injury last week, missing out.
Hull have a host of senior players back as they look to bounce back from their surprise defeat at Huddersfield and atone for their loss at Headingley in April.
Hull FC: Jamie Shaul, Mahe Fonua , Carlos Tuimavave , Fetuli Talanoa , Leon Pryce, Marc Sneyd , Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Liam Watts, Gareth Ellis, Mark Minichiello , Chris Green, Jordan Thompson, Dean Hadley, Steve Michaels, Sika Manu, Josh Bowden, Kirk Yeamen, Danny Washbrook.
Leeds: Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Keith Galloway, Adam Cuthbertson, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Carl Ablett, Liam Sutcliffe, Brett Delaney, Brad Singleton, Mitch Garbutt, Jimmy Keinhorst, Mitch Achurch, Anthony Mullally, Ash Handley, Jordan Lilley, James Segeyaro.