Super League: Hull FC v Warrington Wolves preview
Last Updated: 03/07/14 12:08pm
Warrington Wolves will look to consolidate their place in Super League’s play-off positions when they make the trip to face Hull FC at the KC Stadium on Friday.
Seven straight wins have seen last year’s Grand Finalists climb up to fifth in the Super League standings, while just two wins and a draw in their last five outings sees Hull occupy 10th position.
There is no doubting Tony Smith’s Wolves are riding the crest of a wave and their buoyancy was on full display last Sunday as they raced nine tries past the beleaguered Bradford Bulls in a 50-24 triumph.
Hull meanwhile bagged a share of the spoils at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium, with Joe Westerman slotting a last-gasp touchline conversion clinching a 20-20 draw against Wakefield Wildcats.
Although there are five places separating the sides in the Super League ladder at present, the reverse fixture between the sides was a much tighter affair as the Wolves snatched an 18-16 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Hull FC head coach Lee Radford has made two changes to the side which drew with the Wildcats last time out.
Following his impressive first team debut against Wakefield last Sunday, Jordan Abdull has kept his place in the side, replacing Jacob Miller in Radford's squad.
Abdull is joined in the side by his Under-19 colleague Callum Lancaster who has recovered from a groin injury to feature in the fixture having already claimed five Super League tries this season.
The 17-year old will take the spot of winger Tom Lineham in the preliminary squad, who will be disappointed to miss out.
Ahead of the trip across the M62, Smith has made just one change to the squad that compressively beat the Bulls last time out.
The lone caveat to their success against the Bulls was the loss of loose forward Simon Grix, who looks set for a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, meaning young second-row Joe Philbin is called into the travelling party.
Fresh from signing a new five-and-a-half year deal with the club, Chris Hill retains his place, while Smith will hope Joel Monaghan and Gareth O’Brien can back up their braces against the Bulls with more of the same in East Yorkshire.
Hull FC: Abdull, Bowden, Ellis, Hadley, Heremaia, Horne, Houghton, Lancaster, Miller, Paea, Paleaaesina, Sa, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Tuson, Watts, Whiting, Yeaman
Warrington Wolves: Asotasi, Atkins, C Bridge, Currie, Dwyer, England, R Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, King, J Monaghan, O’Brien, Ormsby, Philbin, Ratchford, Riley, Russell, Westwood