The team news is in for two Challenge Cup games with an injured Huddersfield Giants hosting Hull KR, whilst Leigh Leopards face Hull FC with both teams desperate to snap their poor run of form.
Both games will kick off at 3:00 pm with Huddersfield’s clash with Hull KR available to watch on the Sportsman YouTube channel, making it one of the only free-to-air games in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.
It’s not expected to be a competitive match though, with Rovers beating Huddersfield with ease last week and the Giants are now without a handful of players including star full-back George Flanagan.
As for Hull KR, they’re without Karl Lawton after he copped a three-game ban for his cannonball-style tackle that injured the Giants’ Matty English, who is now expected to miss around two months.
The other game pits Leigh and Hull FC against each other with both sides searching for their first win since the opening round. Leigh’s injury issues persist but the Black and Whites aren’t fully fit either and now all the matchday squads have been locked in.
Challenge Cup team news
Huddersfield Giants team news
The Giants could only name 19 players, such is their injury crisis, and there were a number of academy players among them. As a result, three debuts have been handed out with Alex Chippendale, Roman Sharma and Monty Lumb all being selected with Chippendale and Sharma the starting wingers.
Second-row forward Asher O’Donnell moves into the centres, highlighting their injury issues among the backs even further.
Huddersfield Giants XIII: Jacob Gagai, Alex Chippendale, Asher O’Donnell, Taane Milne, Roman Sharma, Tui Lolohea, Oliver Russell, Chris Patolo, Kieran Rush, Tom Burgess, Jacob Algar, Jack Billington, Tristan Powell
Interchanges: Monty Lumb, Fenton Rogers, George King, Mathieu Cozza
Hull KR team news
Willie Peters doesn’t rotate as much as perhaps some would have expected with the suspended Karl Lawton replaced by Bill Leyland whilst Tom Whitehead also gets a start with James Batchelor rested.
Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May remain in the halves with last week’s Man of the Match Tom Davies also selected.
Hull KR XIII: Jack Broadbent, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Dean Hadley, Rhyse Martin, Tom Whitehead, Elliot Minchella
Interchanges: Tom Amone, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Bill Leyland
Leigh Leopards team news
Leigh continue with Gareth O’Brien at full-back in the absence of both Bailey Hodgson and David Armstrong. Ben McNamara also continues at hooker with Edwin Ipape still not fit.
Matt Davis misses out again due to the HIA he failed against Wigan in round three as Ryan Brown gets his second appearance for the club off the bench.
Leigh Leopards XIII: Gareth O’Brien, Innes Senior, Tesi Niu, Keanan Brand, Josh Charnley, Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam, Owen Trout, Ben McNamara, Robbie Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Andrew Badrock, Isaac Liu
Interchanges: Jack Hughes, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Ryan Brown Liam Horne
Hull FC team news
Hull FC have named an unchanged 17 from the one that suffered defeat at Wakefield Trinity, however, there are changes within the team.
Zak Hardaker moves to full-back with Davy Litten reverting to centre whilst James Bell earns his first start.
Hull FC XIII: Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Davy Litten, Arthur Romano, Lewis Martin, Jake Arthur, Aidan Sezer, Yusuf Aydin, Amir Bourouh, Harvie Hill, James Bell, Connor Bailey, John Asiata
Interchanges: Cade Cust, Brad Fash, Sam Lisone, Ligi Sao
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