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Powell explains absence of playmaker trio for Hull visit

Daryl Powell may well be in a Challenge Cup final, but he is still wary of injuries to his side.

“The mood has been pretty good, we had to force a few players back earlier than we wanted to so the team will look a different this week, but again there’s nothing we can do about it,” Powell said.

“We’ve got to try and mange our way through this difficult period – it’s crazy with the amount of games we will have to play, but we have to manage it week by week and get our best team out on the field.

“Niall Evalds, Jake Trueman and Gaz O’Brien are all struggling; Gaz said he would be ok to play this week, Niall is still sore and Jake is still having trouble with his back so it’s hard work and we’ve got important games coming thick and fast so we’re trying to get a team field on the week that’s competitive.”

Powell is keen to get back on the horse in the league after three straight league defeats, but knows his side need to be mentally and physically tough.

“That was a big game last week which we had to win, but in and around that we need to pick league points up which is tough at the moment.

“I think players have got to put their hands up to play, it’s tough obviously but this is a tough sport.

“You can’t play in a semi-final and then a final, you’ve got games to play inbetween – the boys need to get ready to play.

“At the moment, we’re down on troops and battling our way through, but none of them are long-term – they’re all short-term.

“We’ve got to get back on track in the league, but we’re playing a hull team that will be hurting.

“No one is a doubt for Wembley, but that can’t be our thinking – our thinking has got to be this week, you’ve always got to be aware of what the future holds, but this is week-to-week.”

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