The Black and Whites meet the Red and Whites at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday
Hull FC’s Logan Moy & Hull KR’s Jez Litten shake hands after the last Hull derby on Good Friday
Magic Weekend could be the setting for the one of the most competitive Hull derbies in some time.
Hull KR aren’t performing at the high standards they set last season and come into this weekend’s game at Hill Dickinson Stadium without a number of players and fitness question marks over a couple of others.
Hull FC won’t have their strongest side out either, but after pushing Wigan Warriors extremely close last weekend at the MKM Stadium, their tails will be up and they’ll be feeling confident about what they can do against their greatest rivals.
Hull haven’t beat Rovers in their last seven attempts with the last win for the west of Hull coming back in July 2023.
Andy Last’s side would dearly love to get over the line in Merseyside then and the interim FC boss could have a couple of players coming back into the fold this week in the form of James Bell and Cade Cust.
Both men have been out with injuries, but they could return this weekend in order to give the Black and Whites a huge boost.
There will be no Harvey Barron for FC, with the winger failing a HIA last week and that will prompt changes to the back line with Tom Briscoe expected to move out wide and Zak Hardaker to shift from second-row to centre.
Jed Cartwright should be fit enough to start and fill in for Hardaker in the back-row and if Bell is fit enough, he is by far the best option to start at loose-forward this week.
Bell has been in fine form when he’s been fit this year, but he has only been healthy enough to make eight appearances so far.
Hugo Salabio will drop to the bench if Bell starts, with Jeremiah Mata’utia, Matty Laidlaw and Cust featuring off the bench, too.
Willie Peters will be checking on the fitness of Joe Burgess this week. The head coach didn’t seem overly optimistic about Burgess’ chances when speaking last Friday and if he’s not right, Noah Booth will keep his spot on the wing.
The Rovers boss was a lot more confident on the potential returns of Sauaso Sue and Jez Litten and Sue, assuming he has successfully shaken off the shoulder issue, should start for the Robins.
Karl Lawton has been starting at hooker with Litten coming off the bench and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that happen at Everton’s ground this week, with the England international pushing to get back from an ankle issue.
WIth Tevita Pangai Jr banned, Dean Hadley failing a HIA and Sam Luckley out injured, Rovers do look a bit short in the pack.
Jai Whitbread and Jordan Dezaria will play but that final bench spot could go to a youngster with Cobie Wainhouse perhaps the next cab off the rank when it comes to middles.
Team news will be officially confirmed on Thursday.
Predicted Hull derby line-ups at Magic Weekend:
Hull FC: Logan Moy; Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin; Jake Arthur, Aidan Sezer; Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Harvie Hill; Joe Batchelor, Jed Cartwright; James Bell.
Bench: Hugo Salabio, Jeremiah Mata’utia, Matty Laidlaw, Cade Cust
Hull KR: Jack Broadbent; Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Noah Booth; Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Karl Lawton, Tom Amone; James Batchelor, Rhyse Martin; Elliot Minchella
Bench: Jez Litten, Jai Whitbread, Jordan Dezaria, Cobie Wainhouse.