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Hull FC get their Challenge Cup campaign underway on Saturday when they travel to Post Office Road to take on Sheffield Eagles (kick-off 2pm). Here, Hull Live previews the clash.
Cup ambitions
With all due respect to Sheffield Eagles, Hull FC have received a favourable draw in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup. Brett Hodgson’s side travel to Post Office Road as overwhelming favourites and most expect them to sweep aside the Championship club with relative ease.
Sheffield will be up for this one, though, and with the pressure off, they’ll fancy themselves to give FC a fright at the very least. They approach the contest in fine form, too, having won their last four games in all competitions by scoring 40 points or more.
Read more: The record-breaking afternoon that still holds special place in Hull FC’s history books
That run includes huge wins over Workington Town and Whitehaven and they certainly have the talent required to pose a threat in the game. However, for FC, who have ambitions of going deep into the competition, there can be no excuse for not beating the part-time South Yorkshire side this weekend.
The Black and Whites got to the semi-finals last season and they have high hopes of going at least one better this time around and reaching the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Brett Hodgson is well aware of the rich history FC have in the cup and he would love to become the latest head coach to bring the trophy back to the MKM Stadium.
Selection decisions
Hodgson has named his strongest 21-man for the clash this weekend and it is clear he has no intention of disrespecting Sheffield. However, the cup game feels like the best opportunity he will have this season to rest a couple of players and hand others the opportunities they have been waiting patiently for.
Charlie Severs, Aidan Burrell and Harvey Barron have been included in the squad that will travel to Featherstone and they’ll be desperate to make their way onto the field and test themselves in the senior ranks. Burrell has played for the first-team before, with a two-minute cameo coming against Huddersfield Giants last year, but Severs and Barron would be making debuts should they be included.
(Image: News Images)
The head coach will also be wrestling with the notion that some of his key men may benefit from a rare weekend off, especially with a big Super League clash against Wigan Warriors looming on the horizon. The likes of Josh Griffin, Jake Connor, Chris Satae and Danny Houghton have all played big minutes this season so far and resting one or two might be an option.
Sheffield memories
FC have met Sheffield Eagles in the cup on three previous occasions over the last 20 seasons and in every meeting the result has been a convincing one. Fans will remember the 34-12 win over Sheffield in 2015, while FC beat the Eagles 44-6 back in 2007 at the MKM Stadium.
However, the clash that will standout most in the minds of Hull fans is the 2003 meeting as FC produced a record breaking victory. Shaun McRae’s Black and Whites scored 15 tries on the way to an 88-0 win on home soil, the largest winning margin in the club’s history.
Familiar faces
Hull fans will recognise a number of players lining up for Sheffield Eagles on Saturday afternoon. Anthony Thackeray is a key man for the Eagles but he started his career at FC and made two appearances for the club before moving on to join Castleford Tigers in 2008.
Connor Bower and Ryan Johnson also started their careers at Hull but neither made it onto the field for a first-team debut. Kris Welham, formerly of Hull KR and Salford Red Devils is currently plying his trade with Sheffield and supporters will know all about the strengths of Ben Jones-Bishop after his lengthy spell in Super League with Leeds Rhinos, Salford and Wakefield Trinity.
