Super 8s Preview: Hull v Salford

Two teams with contrasting fortunes in last weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-finals meet in the Super 8s on Friday night.

Hull, victorious over Leeds, host Salford, who were denied a trip to Wembley by Wigan.

The victory has taken some toll on the Airlie Birds, with scrum-half Marc Sneyd and forwards Mark Minichiello and Josh Bowden missing for this one.

Steve Michaels returns having been sidelined for the whole of July through injury, while Jordan Thompson and Jansin Turgut are also drafted in.

Both sides finished in the top four at the end of the regular season, but have Wakefield, St Helens and Wigan all breathing down their necks, so a winning start is vital.

Salford are also counting the cost of a bruising encounter last week, with key men Michael Dobson and Junior Sa’u out due to injury.

Suspended Lama Tasi and Mark Flanagan have both been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

But half-back Robert Lui and centre Jake Bibby return to Ian Watson’s 19-man squad.

Watson is also likely to hand Super League debuts to new signings Manu Vatuvei and Tyrone McCarthy, who both played last Sunday.

Last ten meetings:

Salford 10, Hull FC 34 (SLR18, 9/6/17)
Hull FC 18, Salford 54 (SLR8, 7/4/17)
Salford 20, Hull FC 28 (SLR23, 22/7/16)
Hull FC 42, Salford 20 (SLR1, 5/2/16)
Hull FC 24, Salford 20 (SLR12, 1/5/15)
Salford 32, Hull FC 28 (SLR3, 28/2/15)
Salford 35, Hull FC 22 (SLR20, 12/7/14)
Hull FC 36, Salford 37 (aet) (CCR4, 3/4/14)
Hull FC 30, Salford 8 (SLR7, 28/3/14)
Hull FC 18, Salford 13 (SLR25, 16/8/13)

Super League summary

Hull FC won 31
Salford won 9
Hull FC highest score: 82-6 (H, 2004) (also widest margin)
Salford highest score: 54-18 (A, 2017) (also widest margin)

Squads:

Hull: Shaul, Fonua, Tuimavave, Griffin, Talanoa, Kelly, Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Ellis, Connor, Green, Thompson, Washbrook, Michaels, Manu, Turgut, Fash, Matongo.

Salford: Bibby, Carney, Evalds, Griffin, Hauraki, Johnson, Jones, Kopczak, Krasniqi, Lui, McCarthy, Murray, Murdoch-Masila, O’Brien, Tomkins, Walne, Welham, Wood, Vatuvei.

Prediction:

Hull will be out for revenge after their humbling at the hands of the Red Devils when they last visited the KCOM Stadium – Hull by 14.