The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup sixth round kicks-off on Thursday night with Featherstone Rovers hosting Hull FC, as the Championship side look to pull off an upset.
SQUAD NEWS
Featherstone Rovers
John Duffy has made five changes to the side which traveled to France last weekend, as John Davies, Anthony Thackeray, James Lockwood, Luke Cooper and Ian Hardman all return.
They replace loanees Mitch Clark, Mikolaj Oledzki, Harry Newman, Jansin Turgut and Jordan Lilley.
Featherstone Rovers 19-man squad: Ian Hardman, Shaun Robinson, Misi Taulapapa, Luke Briscoe, Martyn Ridyard, Anthony Thackeray, Scott Wheeldon, Keal Carlile, Richard Moore, Connor Farrell, John Davies, James Lockwood, Matty Wildie, Gareth Hock, Luke Cooper, Tom Holmes, Josh Hardcastle, Brad Knowles, Sam Brooks.
Hull FC
Lee Radford’s squad for the cup tie is missing some big names, as halfback pairing Albert Kelly and Marc Sneyd are both out injured.
Scott Taylor won’t feature either, having picked up a shoulder knock, as Jez Litten and Hakim Miloudi come into contention.
Hull FC 19-man squad: Jamie Shaul, Bureta Faraimo, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Fetuli Talanoa, Danny Houghton, Dean Hadley, Mark Minichiello, Josh Bowden, Jake Connor, Chris Green, Danny Washbrook, Sika Manu, Jez Litten, Mickey Paea, Jordan Lane, Hakim Miloudi, Masi Matongo, Joe Westerman
HEAD TO HEAD
It has been 35 years since Featherstone Rovers faced Hull FC in the Challenge Cup, and it was a day to remember for the Championship side. They shocked the Black and Whites at Wembley, lifting the prestigious trophy with a 14-12 victory, and they will be looking for a repeat of that result this time out.
Their most recent meeting came in 1997, a season which they competed against each other four times, as the Airlie Birds triumphed 46-24. Rovers won the two previous clashes, with FC picking up a victory in the first meeting of the two that year.
KEY BATTLE- Martyn Ridyard v Jamie Shaul
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Featherstone halfback Martyn Ridyard is without doubt one of the Championship’s finest talents, and he showed he could perform in the top division during his spell with Huddersfield Giants last year. The former Leigh Centurions star has 126 points to his name in the league so far this campaign, and will be one of Rovers’ biggest threats.
He may not be his opposite man, but on the opposing side Jamie Shaul will be of huge importance to the Super League outfit’s chances of making it a hat-trick of Challenge Cup triumphs. Without Kelly and Sneyd, a lot of pressure will be on the fullback’s shoulders to come up with the spark in attack, which is something he is more than capable of doing.
It is also worth mentioning Rovers winger Luke Briscoe, as he has scored in 16 consecutive appearances for the club, crossing for 27 tries in that run. If he scores in this clash, he will equal the all-time record set by Eric Harris back in 1935/36.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 10th May
Venue: LD Nutrition Stadium
Kick-off: 7:35pm
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
WHO WILL WIN?
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