John Cartwright has named a close to full-strength initial 21-man squad for his first Super League game as Hull FC coach, at Catalans Dragons on Saturday.
Off-season recruits Jordan Rapana, Zak Hardaker, Aidan Sezer and Amir Bourouh are poised to make their competitive debut for the club, having not played in last weekend’s Challenge Cup win against amateurs York Acorn. Cade Cust, who looks set to get the nod alongside Sezer in the halves, John Asiata and Hugo Salabio are in contention to make their Super League bow for the Black and Whites.
New signing Oliver Holmes picked up an injury during that game and joins Ed Chamberlain, Davy Litten, Jack Charles and Matty Laidlaw on the casualty list.
Hull FC initial 21: Jordan Rapana, Harvey Barron, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Ligi Sao, Jed Cartwright, Jordan Lane, John Asiata, Cade Cust, Yusuf Aydin, Jack Ashworth, Brad Fash, Lewis Martin, Logan Moy, Denive Balmforth, Ryan Westerman, Callum Kemp, Hugo Salabio.
Catalans are without full-back Sam Tomkins who suffered a hamstring injury during last week’s 14-0 Cup win at Halifax Panthers.
Theo Fages, who didn’t play last week, has also joined the injury list, but the French side could give a debut to former Australia stand-off Luke Keary.
Arthur Romano, Jordan Dezaria, Romain Navarrete and Clement Martin are also vying for a call into the matchday 17.
Catalans’ 21 is: Tommy Makinson, Arthur Romano, Nick Cotric, Luke Keary, Arthur Mourgue, Tevita Pangai, Benjamin Garcia, Julian Bousquet, Tariq Sims, Elliott Whitehead, Oliver Partington, Alrix Da Costa, Chris Satae, Romain Navarrete, Bayley Sironen, Cesar Rouge, Paul Seguier, Jordan Dezaria, Fouad Yaha, Franck Maria, Clement Martin.
