Hull FC v Wakefield: Teams
Struggling Hull FC host Wakefield at the KC Stadium on Friday night as they look to avoid a third straight Super League defeat.
Last Updated: 14/03/08 1:25pm
Struggling Hull FC host Wakefield at the KC Stadium on Friday night as they look to avoid a third straight Super League defeat.
But the Airlie Birds will have been lifted by their narrow 29-30 defeat at St Helens last time out when only a last minute penalty prevented them from taking the points from Knowsley Road.
Peter Sharp's side also showed they could compete with the big guns in their only victory of the season so far at home to Wigan in February.
Injuries to international props Ewan Dowes (knee) and Garreth Carvell (knee) have not aided the cause, while back rower Willie Manu is yet to recover from his broken jaw and Richard Horne is another major absentee.
Former Catalans Dragons forward Adel Fellous has been brought in on loan until the end of March as cover up front, while hooker Shaun Berrigan is back after an arm injury.
Matt Dale and Tom Briscoe are the men to make way as Sharp's men look to pull level with the Wildcats in the early season standings.
Strength
Wakefield claimed just their second win of the season last time out against the Airlie Birds' arch-rivals Hull Kingston Rovers.
John Kear's side ended a run of three straight defeats in that match at Belle Vue, although they also ran St Helens close at Knowsley Road.
Again it took a last-gasp score by the home side to steal the points, but Wakefield have beaten the Bradford Bulls already this season and the squad is beginning to get back to full fitness.
Tony Martin (hamstring) and Damian Blanch (shoulder) are still unavailable, but hooker Tevita Leo-Latu returns to the squad following his calf tear.
Paul Reilly is also back following his one-match ban for tripping and Matt Blaymire is also recalled. Jason Golden, Luke George and Jay Pitts are the men to make way.
Hull squad: Berrigan, Byrne, Burnett, Cusack, Hall, G. Horne, Houghton, King, Lee, Radford, Raynor, Sing, Tony, Tickle, Washbrook, Wheeldon, Dykes, Yeaman, Fellous.
Wakefield squad: Blaymire, Atkins, Reilly, Rooney, Brough, Watene, Sculthorpe, Ferres, MacGillivray, Demetriou, Obst, Bibey, Henderson, Wilkes, Gleeson, Leo-Latu, Grix, Ferguson, Moore, Murphy.