Hull FC v Bradford Bulls team news with one doubt and seven out including star forwards

Hull FC will welcome Bradford Bulls back to Super League on Saturday evening but both teams could be without some key players.

The Black and Whites are set to have their highest non-derby opening day home attendance since 2005 with a large contingent of fans travelling over from West Yorkshire.

Of course, the vast majority of those turning out will be hoping for a Hull FC home win, something they’ve been deprived of in recent years with the Black and Whites boasting poor home form, however, there is genuine optimism around fans this year.

That has been dampened with recent injury news as loose forward John Asiata is among those to miss out on Saturday’s game after suffering a setback in pre-season.

With the 21-man squads named, we’ve looked at which players will have no part to play on Saturday evening, as well as those who remain doubts for the Super League clash between Hull FC and Bradford Bulls.

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Hull FC team news

For Hull, the biggest piece of team news is that John Asiata will not play with the loose forward not considered fit yet having undergone an operation on his hamstring in the off-season.

He and star prop Herman Ese’ese will be big absences with Ese’ese still recovering from an Achilles rupture whilst fellow overseas forward Jed Cartwright misses out after suffering a HIA after just 15 seconds against Salford.

Signing James Bell also isn’t named in the squad but all of Will Pryce, Lewis Martin and Liam Knight, who had missed the cup clash, will play. There could be a Super League debut for signing Jake Arthur who is a slight doubt.

Hull FC 21-man squad: 1. Will Pryce, 2. Harvey Barron, 3. Davy Litten, 4. Zak Hardaker, 5. Lewis Martin, 6. Jake Arthur, 7. Aidan Sezer, 9. Amir Bourouh, 10. Harvie Hill, 11. Joe Batchelor, 14. Cade Cust, 16. Sam Lisone, 17. Liam Knight, 18. Ligi Sao, 19. Tom Briscoe, 20. Yusuf Aydin, 21. Arthur Romano, 22. Connor Bailey, 23. Brad Fash, 27. Callum Kemp, 32. Lloyd Kemp

Bradford Bulls team news

For the Bulls, they’ve removed most of the doubt from their 21-man squad as Ethan Ryan, who suffered a rib injury late in the Challenge Cup win over London Broncos, hasn’t been named.

Kurt Haggerty spoke about how Ryan was a chance of playing but he misses out so it could mean that Connor Wynne features against his former club.

Two who won’t play are Will Gardiner and Jayden Nikorima with both out, the latter having had a calf tear confirmed, meaning he will be out for around six weeks.

Bradford Bulls 21-man squad: Andy Ackers, Caleb Aekins, Waqa Blake, Ed Chamberlain, Eribe Doro, Brandon Douglas, Zac Fulton, Luke Hooley, Joe Keyes, Loghan Lewis, Esan Marsters, Joe Mellor, Rowan Milnes, Jayden Okunbor, Eliot Peposhi, Leon Ruan, Dan Russell, Ebon Scurr, Mitch Souter, Ryan Sutton, Connor Wynne

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