Huddersfield Giants travel to Hull FC on Saturday hoping to replicate their incredible Challenge Cup win from a fortnight ago that saw them cruise to a 50-6 victory.
Hull FC will be hoping to avoid a sixth Super League defeat of the season with Tony Smith wanting a response after being blitzed in the first half of the derby on Good Friday.
Hull KR raced into a 28-0 lead scoring six tries in the opening forty minutes but FC did show some fight with Tony Smith praising the “desperate defence” that saw them win the second half.
Injury problems did worsen in that game though with captain Danny Houghton confirmed as having a rib injury that will rule him out for the weekend’s game and possibly longer.
Jack Ashworth also suffered a thumb injury but the key injury news for FC was that young forward Nick Staveley would miss the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury picked up in training.
Smith explained that the injury was far worse than initially anticipated with Staveley now sidelined for nine months, whereas for Huddersfield they’ve had long term injury concerns for Chris Hill.
Both sides have now named their 21-man squads for the weekend.
Huddersfield Giants see former Hull FC star return
Credit: Imago Images
One of the absentees from Huddersfield’s win over London Broncos was Jake Connor with Ian Watson explaining that the club held the full-back back so as to avoid further injury.
The former Hull FC man has now been named in the squad to face his old club, whilst Matty English also returns to the squad after a minor injury prevented him from facing London.
As for Hull FC they’ve made three changes with the injured Danny Houghton, Jack Ashworth and Nick Staveley all dropping out. Joe Cator returns from a hamstring injury while youngsters Zach Jebson and Logan Moy are called up with Moy potentially set for his debut.
As well as the aforementioned trio, FC have confirmed their injury list as follows: “Carlos Tuimavave (hamstring), Jake Trueman (Achilles), Brad Fash (ankle), Mitieli Vulikijapani (knee), Jack Walker (hamstring) Kye Armstrong (shoulder) and Cobie Wainhouse (knee)”
Hull FC 21-Man Squad
1 – Tex Hoy
2 – Liam Tindall
4 – Liam Sutcliffe
5 – Darnell McIntosh
7 – Fa’amanu Brown
8 – Herman Ese’ese
10 – Franklin Pele
11 – Jayden Okunbor
12 – Ligi Sao
14 – Joe Cator
15 – Jordan Lane
17 – Cam Scott
19 – Morgan Smith
20 – Jack Brown
21 – Will Gardiner
23 – Davy Litten
26 – Lewis Martin
27 – Zach Jebson
30 – Matty Laidlaw
37 – Logan Moy
40 – Jack Charles
Huddersfield Giants 21-Man Squad
1 – Jake Connor
2 – Adam Swift
3 – Esan Marsters
4 – Kevin Naiqama
5 – Jake Bibby
6 – Tui Lolohea
7 – Adam Clune
9 – Adam Milner
10 – Joe Greenwood
11 – Jack Murchie
13 – Luke Yates
14 – Ashton Golding
15 – Matty English
16 – Harry Rushton
17 – Olly Wilson
18 – Seb Ikahihifo
19 – Thomas Deakin
21 – Leroy Cudjoe
23 – Olly Russell
24 – Sam Halsall
26 – Hugo Salabio
