How Hull FC could look vs Hull KR amid potential Will Pryce debut

Will Pryce arrives at Hull FC in a week unlike any other as the Black and Whites prepare to meet Hull KR in the Challenge Cup. Pryce will know all about the derby and the pressure that brings as he prepares to readies himself to make a swift debut for the club.

However, this week’s derby won’t be like any of the all-Hull clashes Pryce has witnessed in the past, with a spot in the Challenge Cup semi-finals on the line as well as the city bragging rights. Hull haven’t met the Robins in the cup since 1986 and they haven’t beaten them in that competition since 1978, with that famous 1980 meeting at Wembley still leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of those FC fans old enough to remember it.

The Black and Whites will be desperate to get the job done then and extend Rovers’ trophy drought for a few more months at the very least. Indeed, the Challenge Cup hits a little different in East Yorkshire and the do or die, all or nothing nature of the quarter-final only adds to the clash.

If he is ready to make his bow this weekend then Pryce has the perfect opportunity to become an instant hit and endear himself to the FC fanbase. On the face of it, John Cartwright has a pretty simple selection call to make in order to squeeze him, too.

With Cade Cust, who has performed very well over the first couple of months of the season, picking up a head knock at Castleford Tigers on Thursday night, he will be ruled out of the cup game. That means the door is open for the former Newcastle Knights man to jump into the stand-off role and partner Aidan Sezer in the halves.

And, it means that Hull will be able to play the game with their new look best spine, with Amir Bourouh avoiding a suspension, despite two charges and Jordan Rapana, another who has impressed, at full-back.

Cartwright will be checking on a number of injured players this week and Zak Hardaker is certainly one he will be hoping to bring back into the fold with his experience potentially key for such a huge contest.

If he’s fit he plays in a back line of Tom Briscoe, Ed Chamberlain and Lewis Martin, while the pack promises to be remain fairly unchanged, injury permitting.

Possible Hull FC side to face Hull KR: Jordan Rapana; Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, Lewis Martin; Will Pryce, Aidan Sezer; Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Liam Knight; Jordan Lane, Brad Fash; John Asiata.

Bench: Logan Moy, Jack Ashworth, Sam Eseh, Will Kirby.