Hull FC v Wigan: Teams
Injury-hit Hull FC welcome Brian Noble's high-flying Wigan to the KC Stadium on Friday night.
Last Updated: 21/02/08 3:44pm
Injury-hit Hull FC welcome Brian Noble's high-flying Wigan Warriors to the KC Stadium on Friday night.
Great Britain winger Gareth Raynor showed signs of rust making his first start of the season in the 24-6 defeat at home to Harlequins on Sunday.
But coach Peter Sharp will be relying on his key men to put in a big performance if the ailing Airlie Birds are to notch their first points of the season.
The Black and Whites lost to Leeds Rhinos and the Warrington Wolves in their opening two fixtures, but have skipper Lee Radford back in contention after recovering from a broken thumb in pre-season.
Anthony Thackeray makes way for Radford's return, while Matt Sing (foot), Richard Horne (foot), Kirk Yeaman (elbow), Adam Dykes (calf), Richard Whiting (arm) and Gareth Carvell (knee) are all still injured.
Surprise
Wigan are one of only two sides to have maintained a 100 per cent record in the league so far following victories against the Castleford Tigers and Harlequins.
Stuart Fielden is named in the Warriors' unchanged 20-man squad, despite suffering a bicep injury training for the game against the Super League new boys at the weekend, although he still looks set to for a spell on the sidelines until mid-March.
There is positive news over winger Mark Calderwood though, with the former Leeds Rhinos star set to make his comeback from a broken ankle in Saturday's reserve match against Hull.
Wigan have hit the ground running this season and have the psychological edge over the Airlie Birds having completed a home and away double in 2007.
Hull 20-man squad: Berrigan, Byrne, Briscoe, Burnett, Cusack, Dale, Dowes, Hall, G. Horne, Houghton, King, Lee, Tony, Manu, Radford, Raynor, Tickle, Wheeldon, Washbrook, Williams.
Wigan 20-man squad: Mathers, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Paleaaesina, Hock, Bailey, O'Loughlin, Colbon, Coley, Hansen, McIlorum, Prescott, J. Tomkins, O'Carroll, Coyle.