John Cartwright has finalised his Hull FC side to take on Catalans Dragons this Saturday evening – with Cade Cust succumbing to a hip pointer injury and unable to feature.
Cust has been a doubt all week with the injury, with Hull deciding not to risk the Aussie half-back, who also copped the same knock at Wakefield two months ago. That sees Jordan Rapana come into the halves to partner Aidan Sezer, with Will Pryce at full-back.
At loose-forward, Yusuf Aydin gets the nod. The forward played for the reserves last week but now gets a big chance to prove his worth again in the south of France, coming in for the injured John Asiata – who is having further scans to determine the severity of a hamstring injury. He has travelled to Perpignan.
Rapana and Aydin are the only two changes to the side. Pryce is at full-back. On the wings, Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron start again, with Tom Briscoe and Davy Litten in the centres. Up front, Herman Ese’ese and Liam Knight start with Amir Bourouh at hooker. Ed Chamberlain and Zak Hardaker are in the back row with Aydin at loose forward.
The bench is the same as Leigh Leopards last week, with Jack Ashworth, Denive Balmforth, Matty Laidlaw, and Sam Eseh all named. Brad Fash is the 18th man.
Starting XIII: 6. Will Pryce; 2. Harvey Barron, 5. Tom Briscoe, 20. Davy Litten, 22. Lewis Martin; 1. Jordan Rapana, 7. Aidan Sezer; 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Amir Bourouh, 40. Liam Knight; 3. Zak Hardaker, 4. Ed Chamberlain; 16. Yusuf Aydin
Interchange: 17. Jack Ashworth, 25. Denive Balmforth, 27. Matty Laidlaw, 39. Sam Eseh
18th Man: 19. Brad Fash