SQUAD NEWS
HULL FC
Hull FC come into the game off the back of the derby victory over Hull KR, achieved despite playing with 12 men since Bureta Faraimo’s dismissal in the ninth minute. Faraimo has been given a one-match ban, but the disciplinary process won’t take place until Wednesday so he is available for the visit of Wakefield.
With the short Easter turnaround in mind, Lee Radford has made a few changes to his squad, with Jamie Shaul and Carlos Tuimavave both rested after stellar performances at Craven Park. Hakim Miloudi is likely to make his debut at full back, while Jack Logan and Jansin Turgut come in with Jordan Lane the other to drop out.
Hull come into this Easter Monday clash with an unbeaten home record so far this season, with Huddersfield, Warrington and Catalans all coming away from the KCOM Stadium with nothing.
Hull FC 19-man squad: Faraimo, Griffin, Talanoa, Kelly, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, Minichiello, Bowden, Connor, Green, Abdull, Washbrook, Fash, Paea, Logan, Turgut, Miloudi, Matongo.
WAKEFIELD TRINITY
Wakefield’s great start to the season seems a distant memory now, as four wins have been followed by three straight defeats to Wigan, Warrington and Castleford.
Despite the extra day’s rest since Thursday’s home defeat to Cas, Chris Chester has rested several of his regulars for the trip to Hull. Scott Grix, Ben Jones-Bishop and Liam Finn are high-profile absences from the backline while forwards Anthony England and Justin Horo are also left out.
In their places are four players who could make their first appearance of the season, in Chris Annakin, James Batchelor, Jordan Crowther and Max Jowitt. Jordan Baldwinson is the other man brought in, while David Fifita, who made the Castleford game despite not appearing in the original squad, isn’t listed for this one.
Wakefield 19-man squad: Annakin, Arona, Arundel, Ashurst, Baldwinson, Batchelor, Caton-Brown, Crowther, Hampshire, Hirst, Huby, Johnstone, Jowitt, Lyne, Miller, Pauli, Randell, Tupou, Wood.
HEAD TO HEAD
All three meetings last season were won by Hull FC, with 12-8 and 40-18 victories in the regular season and a 19-18 home victory in the Super 8s when a Marc Sneyd drop goal proved decisive.
Wakefield’s last victory over the Black and Whites came in 2015, with Hull victorious in each of the last seven contests. The last time Trinity won at the KCOM was back in 2014.
KEY BATTLE – Danny Houghton v Tyler Randell
The return of captain Danny Houghton was a huge boost for Hull FC on Good Friday and he had a huge impact as he guided them to victory over their dearest rivals. The workload he gets through is immense and anyone who goes up against him has to do similar to give their side a chance.
Since Tyler Randell’s return from a pre-season injury Wakefield have lost three out of three, and while that doesn’t mean he is to blame he and Kyle Wood will need to put in extra work, particularly in the absence of key front rowers David Fifita and Anthony England.
With the fatigue of a short turnaround likely to have a big influence, the side that wins this clash will be the one with the pack that is most fresh and can have the biggest impact.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Monday 2 April
Venue: KCOM Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Liam Moore
WHO WILL WIN?
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