Predicted Hull FC side to face Huddersfield Giants as Brett Hodgson given rare opportunity

Hull FC will travel to Huddersfield Giants on Saturday with a near-fully fit squad of players. They’re still missing Scott Taylor, Jamie Shaul, Cam Scott and Joe Cator through injury, but the returns of Josh Reynolds, Carlos Tuimavave and Kane Evans will come as a huge boost to Brett Hodgson ahead of the Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Reynolds has missed last four games with an elbow concern and he could come straight back into the side at stand-off, while it is hoped both Tuimavave and Evans have recovered from calf injuries. With that in mind, Hull Live takes a look at how the Black and Whites could line-up at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The first thing that must be said is that there is a very real possibility that Hull’s starting line-up could rather satisfyingly be made up of their top 13 squad numbers. Hodgson has been forced to dig deep into his squad already this season, but after seeing a host of players return to action in recent weeks, he has the opportunity to field his first choice line-up this week.

If he’s fit, Tuimavave will almost certainly come back into the side to partner Darnell McIntosh in the outside backs. It’s tough on Mitieli Vulikijapani, who has done very well over the last few weeks, but if Tuimavave is available, he starts.

Evans could be named on the bench to face the Giants and after his disrupted start to the season he will be keen to impress. The biggest decision Hodgson has to make is in the halves, though, following the return to fitness of Reynolds.

Joe Lovodua has really caught the eye in the stand-off role over the last few weeks and a part of Hodgson will be tempted to keep the Fijian alongside Luke Gale. However, the head coach will also be keen to see his first-choice pivot