Hull FC will look to condemn Wigan to a fourth consecutive defeat when they welcome the Warriors to the KCOM Stadium on Saturday. Read the build-up here:
Hull FC
Albert Kelly is expected to return to action after being left out last week as a precautionary measure due to a hamstring problem, while hooker Danny Houghton also returns following a head injury. Jez Litten and Jansin Turgut also come into the squad.
Joe Westerman drops out with a knee injury, as do Jordan Lane and 18-year-old centre Cameron Scott. Josh Griffin, Marc Sneyd and Dean Hadley are all still absent with knee injuries, while Sika Manu is sidelined with a leg injury.
Hull FC 19-man squad: Shaul, Faraimo, Tuimavave, Kelly, Taylor, Houghton, Minichiello, Connor, Green, Washbrook, Fash, Litten, Paea, Logan, Turgut, Downs, Miloudi, Matongo, Harris.
Wigan Warriors
Liam Farrell has been ruled out after rolling his ankle in the loss at Wakefield last week, while academy product Josh Woods also drops out.
Craig Mullen, who made his debut on the wing at the Mobile Rocket Stadium, remains in the squad, but Liam Marshall is likely to retake his place after recovering from illness.
Prop Callum Field comes into the 19, and forwards Taulima Tautai and Ben Flower are in contention to return after withdrawing through injury last week.
Wigan Warriors 19-man squad: Tomkins, Davies, Sarginson, Gildart, Williams, Powell, Clubb, Leuluai, Flower, O’Loughlin, Bateman, Tautai, Isa, Escare, Marshall, Navarette, Hamlin, Field, Mullen.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides made history earlier this season when they contested the first Super League game to be played outside of Europe, as Wigan overcame Hull 24-10 at the WIN Stadium in Wollongong, Australia.
The Cherry and Whites’ victory down under made it five wins apiece in the last ten meetings in all competitions, although the Warriors do have a much better record in the games played at the KCOM, having won all but one of their visits to west Hull since 2010.
KEY BATTLE- Jake Connor v George Williams
Jake Connor has successfully made the switch into the halves in recent weeks due to injuries to Albert Kelly and Marc Sneyd and has continued to show the form that has made him one of Super League’s stand-out players of the season.
With six tries and nine assists, Connor has the highest number of direct contributions to tries of any Hull player in 2018 and is becoming an increasingly influential part of Lee Radford’s team no matter which position he is deployed in.
George Williams, however, has been criticised in recent weeks during Wigan’s poor run of form. Like Connor, Williams is also his club’s most productive player (5 tries, 16 assists) but has struggled to be as creative in an underperforming Wigan side.
Both have been named in England’s 19-man squad for the test with New Zealand next weekend so will want to put in a good performance as they stake their claims for a starting spot in Denver.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 16th June 2018
Venue: KCOM Stadium
Kick-off: 17:00pm
Referee: Robert Hicks
WHO WILL WIN?
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