Hull take on Harrogate this weekend and will face a side that may have turned a corner after defeating Otley last week and leapfrogged Hull in the league placings.
Harrogate have beaten Chester and latterly Otley whilst drawing against Tynedale. Heavy defeats earlier in the campaign against Sheffield, Lymm and Fylde saw Harrogate sink to the bottom of the league but they are clearly up for the fight to stay in this league.
Hull were disappointed to lose to fellow strugglers Sheffield Tigers last weekend, but could have done rather better if they had been able to eliminate errors which were costly.
Hull will have to play without Joey Barratt who made a very encouraging return to the side last week, but sustained a further injury so the experienced and tenacious Harvey Harding replaces him at scrum-half.
The backs will be without winger Harry Dawkins but should welcome the return of Mike Adlard to the side with one or two fitness doubts about Hull’s back line. The versatile Duell Trueman is back in contention and can play centre, wing or full-back.
The pack will be without the ever-reliable second row man Liam Regardsoe but welcome back Will Hall and Paulos Latu to the squad, which will give the coaches options in the back row with David Halafoinua, Evi Urburu-Gray and one of last week’s try scorers Adam Brankley holding down the back-row positions last week.
Hull have played well recently on home turf, running high-fliers Sheffield and Lymm very close and recently getting the better of Fylde .
Making the most of attacking positions will be something Hull will have to focus on if they are to get the better of a Harrogate side who are improving, but the talent is available to do just that.
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