Hull FC vs Wigan Warriors Preview

The Lowdown

HULL FC

• Hull's run without a win was extended to three games following a late defeat away at Catalans on Monday. The black and whites conceded two tries in the final 10 minutes which cost them the two points.
• Lee Radford could hand a debut to youngster Connor Bower, potentially replacing the suspended Josh Griffin. Liam Watts is also suspended following his red card against Catalans with Masi Matongo taking his place in the squad.
• Those suspensions have come at a bad time for Hull with them already struggling to cope with numerous injuries and players taking to the field with pain-killing injections.

Head Coach: Lee Radford

Squad: Josh Bowden, Connor Bower, Jake Connor, Jack Downs, Brad Fash, Chris Green, Danny Houghton, Albert Kelly, Sika Manu, Masi Matongo, Steve Michaels, Mark Minichiello, Nick Rawsthorne, Jamie Shaul, Fetuli Talanoa, Jordan Thompson, Carlos Tuimavave, Jansin Turgut, Danny Washbrook

Unavailable: Josh Griffin (Suspended), Liam Watts (Suspended), Gareth Ellis (Sternum), Dean Hadley (Jaw), Marc Sneyd (Foot), Scott Taylor (Elbow), Mahe Fonua (Hamstring)

WIGAN WARRIORS

• Wigan have now gone five games without a Super League win after falling to defeat to Wakefield on Monday. The Warriors were 20-0 up after 19 minutes but went into the break 20-22 down and couldn't come back as Wakefield ran out 30-42 winners.
• Shaun Wane is able to recall Liam Forsyth and Joel Tomkins after the pair missed Monday's game with Gabe Fell also called up to the 19-man squad. They take the place of Nick Gregson, Romain Navarrete and James Worthington.
• Wigan now sit just four points in front of Warrington who currently occupy 9th place in the Super League table. A sixth straight game without a win here could leave them in a battle to make the Super 8s come the end of the regular season.

Head Coach: Shaun Wane

Squad: Joe Burgess, Tom Davies, Liam Farrell, Gabe Fell, Callum Field, Liam Forsyth, Willie Isa, Thomas Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Michael Mcilorum, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Jack Wells, George Williams

Unavailable: Anthony Gelling (Knee), Ben Flower (Achilles), Morgan Escaré (Knee), Tony Clubb (Kidney), Oliver Gildart (Back), Sam Tomkins (Ankle), Dom Manfredi (Knee), John Bateman (Shoulder), Jake Shorrocks (Knee)

Analysis - what to expect
Both of these sides come into this game in poor form and missing plenty of their star men. A win for Wigan closes the gap on their opponents to just a single point but if Hull win, they would open up a significant five-point gap. Wigan have had the better of these contests with them claiming the spoils in 16 of the last 20 games in all competitions between the two sides. This should be a close game but Wigan's run against Hull may be extended here with the hosts missing too much power in their side.