Wolves v Hull FC: Teams
The Warrington Wolves will be looking to close the gap on Stobart Super League leaders Wigan when they tackle Hull FC on Sunday.
Last Updated: 22/06/12 5:40pm
The Warrington Wolves will be looking to close the gap on Stobart Super League leaders Wigan when they tackle Hull FC on Sunday.
Tony Smith's men are currently three points behind the Warriors, who entertain Widnes Vikings on Monday night.
Wolves got the better of the champions Leeds Rhinos last time out and they had last weekend off with England doing battle with the Exiles at St Helens' Langtree Park.
The Black and Whites surrendered a 20-point advantage in losing to the Wakefield Wildcats in their last outing, although Peter Gentle's team remain sixth in the table.
The teams opened their seasons with a 20-all draw, Ben Westwood missing last-gasp kick to claim the two points for the visitors at The KC Stadium.
Smith is not reading a lot into the fixture, stating both teams are now improved, commenting: "I think we will both look at ourselves and consider us better teams than the first round of the season so I don't think we can read too much into that first game.
Good teams
"Both are very good teams and are high up in the top eight. It will be a very competitive game and a tough game."
Warrington have hooker Michael Monaghan back from a near three-month absence with knee trouble but full-back Brett Hodgson has failed to recover from a hamstring injury that forced him to pull out of the Exiles game and the Wolves are also without utility man Simon Grix.
Stefan Ratchford is set to fill the void at full-back with Tyrone McCarthy, Ben Currie and Matty Blythe vying to replace Ben Westwood, who is recovering from a hernia operation.
Former New Zealand Warriors hooker Aaron Heremaia is set to make his long-awaited Super League debut after recovering from a neck injury sustained in a pre-season friendly.
Stand-off Richard Horne returns in place of Jamie Ellis after shaking off a groin strain and there is also a place for young forward Liam Kent in coach Gentle's initial squad.
"Aaron is pushing hard for a return," said Gentle. "We won't be rushing him back at this stage and, while Aaron is eager to get back out on the field, he also knows he has to be 100 per cent right.
"We are hopeful of him returning but, after so long out, we won't be looking for 80 minutes from him. We have a few options that we can use at dummy half."
Warrington Wolves: Atkins, Blythe, C. Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Currie, Harrison, Higham, Hill, McCarthy, M. Monaghan, J. Monaghan, Morley, O'Brien, Ratchford, Riley, Waterhouse, Wood.
Hull FC: Aspinwall, T. Briscoe, Crooks, Horne, Houghton, Heremaia, Kent, Lynch, Manu, Moa, O'Carroll, Pitts, Russell, Seymour, Tickle, Turner, Whiting, Westerman, Yeaman.