Hull FC v Saints: Teams
The return of England centre Kirk Yeaman is one of two changes to the Hull squad for Sunday's clash with St Helens.
Last Updated: 02/06/12 1:21pm
The return of England centre Kirk Yeaman is one of two changes to the Hull squad for Sunday's clash with St Helens.
Hull FC head coach Peter Gentle has also recalled utility forward Richard Whiting for the top-six game, as the Black and Whites go into the contest just two points and one place ahead of last year's Grand Finalists.
Whiting is available for selection following a one-match suspension that ruled him out of the derby defeat to Hull KR in Manchester last weekend, while Yeaman is back following a five-game absence with a foot injury.
The duo take the place of young back row forward Liam Kent and veteran centre Tony Martin in Gentle's 19-man squad, with the latter ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles picked up during Saturday's 32-30 loss to Rovers.
Short tempered
"The boys have been a bit short tempered with each other this week, as have the coaching staff," said Gentle.
"We are still stinging from last weekend and we are itching to get back out on the field and make amends.
"Training this week has been very positive and it's fair to say the players are eager to get out there and make amends.
"No doubt St Helens will also be looking to do the same after their own disappointing loss to Wigan so it should be a good game."
St Helens have lost wingmen Ade Gardner and Francis Meli and prop forward Anthony Laffranchi through injury, while utility forward Shaun Magennis is suspended.
Competing to take their places are Tommy Makinson, Mark Flanagan, Carl Forster, Josh Jones, Adam Swift and Lee Gaskell in a match that marks the 100th appearance of Tony Puletua.
"It's always hard at the KC," said Saints acting head coach Mike Rush. "They'll be smarting because they got pipped in the last minute by their arch rivals."
Hull FC squad: Aspinwall, Briscoe, Crooks, Horne, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Moa, Nicklas, O'Carroll, Pitts, Russell, Sharp, Seymour, Tickle, Turner, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman
St Helens squad: Wellens, Shenton, Soliola, Hohaia, Lomax, Perry, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Flanagan, Clough, Dixon, Gaskell, Makinson, Forster, Jones, Swift