Hull KR are facing a series of selection headaches ahead of their Magic Weekend derby against Hull FC in Liverpool, with several key players racing to prove their fitness.
The squads will be confirmed on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, which is set to be the second game of the highly anticipated event.
Huddersfield Giants and York Knights will kick off the action, with Warrington Wolves and Leigh Leopards concluding Saturday’s fixtures before three more games on Sunday. Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique will also meet in France as part of the wider Magic Weekend schedule.
Head coach Willie Peters will be hoping to recall several players ahead of the showdown with their city rivals.
The Robins have opted not to appeal the Grade F charge handed to Tevita Pangai Junior for eye-gouging, meaning he will serve a six-match suspension. The incident occurred during Hull KR’s defeat to Leeds Rhinos, a match which marked the former NRL forward’s third appearance for the club.
Influential forward Dean Hadley will also miss the trip to Everton after failing his head injury assessment at Headingley, while Tom Amone also suffered a nasty eye knock during the same incident.
Starting prop Sauaso Sue missed the Round 15 contest due to injury, alongside interchange regular Sam Luckley.
On top of that, England international Jez Litten has also missed the last fortnight after failing to overcome an ankle issue.
However, Peters is hoping to welcome back several key men, with his pack in need of experience heading into what will be the biggest-attended Magic Weekend yet.
He revealed last week that Litten and Sue are expected to return, with Sue having been carrying a shoulder injury, while Luckley could yet miss another round.
Flying finisher Joe Burgess will also need to pass fitness tests to return from a shoulder injury, which saw Noah Booth called into the first-team squad against Leeds.
Pangai Jr’s suspension opens space in Hull KR’s match day 17, while former Hull FC youngster Cobie Wainhouse was named in Rovers’ extended squad last week. He is yet to make his debut for the club, and he started for the reserves over the weekend against Bradford Bulls at prop.
Jordan Dezaria could also be required to step up once more.