Hull FC v Hull KR: Teams
Hull new boy Martin Gleeson is set for a baptism of fire when he makes his debut in the derby clash with Hull KR on Friday.
Last Updated: 21/04/11 3:31pm
Hull new boy Martin Gleeson is set for a baptism of fire when he makes his debut in the derby clash with Hull KR on Friday.
The centre, who was snapped up by Hull after his departure from Wigan, has been named in Richard Agar's 19-man squad for the clash at the KC Stadium, live on Sky Sports.
Agar has made a total of three changes from the squad that suffered a 28-10 loss to Catalan Dragons in Perpignan last Saturday.
Veteran scrum-half Sean Long and three-quarter Will Sharp return to the squad, while Willie Manu retains his place and is available to play after he did not receive clearance to travel to France. Reece Lyne, Danny Washbrook and Lee Radford drop out.
With Hull currently 11th in the Super League table and their arch-rivals sitting one place below them, Agar admits both sides are nearing desperation mode.
Form
"It's probably fair to say we're both desperate for the points. As the clock ticks towards the halfway point, it's imperative we start collecting more victories," he said.
"I was reasonably happy with our form over the last four or five weeks, but it was a setback last weekend and we've got to show a response.
"We didn't play well but there is probably no better game to bring it out."
Hull KR welcome back Australian scrum-half Michael Dobson after Willie Mason was de-registered and will therefore be unavailable for selection.
Dobson was originally de-registered while the Robins waited for Mason's Tongan passport to arrive, but has now recovered from an ankle injury and is set to make his first appearance since February.
Clint Newton is still missing through injury, while Liam Colbon will also be absent after picking up a hamstring problem in the home defeat to Wigan last time out.
Hull FC squad: T. Briscoe, Dowes, Fitzgibbon, Gleeson, Horne, Houghton, Lauaki, Long, Manu, Moa, Obst , O'Meley, Phelps, Sharp, Tickle, Turner, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
Hull KR squad: Cook, Cockayne, Clinton, Fisher, Galea, Green, Fox, Hodgson, Latus, Lovegrove, Dobson, Murrell, Netherton, Sheriff, Taylor, Vella, Webster, Welham, Watts.
