THERE may be a full debut and a home bow in the Warrington Wolves side that faces Hull FC tomorrow night.
The Wire desperately need a victory to keep their fading hopes of a top-six finish alive and instill some much-needed confidence after a run of five straight defeats.
But which 17 players will Daryl Powell trust with the attempt to bring home a much-needed win?
The Guardian’s Warrington Wolves reporter Matt Turner runs us through his options here…
PERSONALLY, I cannot envisage the Wire side being too far removed from the one that lost at Wakefield a couple of weeks ago.
Indeed, I can only see a couple of swaps with one of them being Peter Mata’utia’s return to the fold.
Having previously been the only player to start every match this season, Mata’utia missed the Wakefield game through suspension to bring his ever-present run to an end.
Fresh from lining up at full-back for the Combined Nations All-Stars against England at the weekend, I expect him to return to his regular right-centre role.
Peter Mata'utia had been ever-present for Wire before missing the loss at Wakefield through suspension. Picture by Mike Boden
That would mean Connor Wrench reverting to the wing and Josh Thewlis dropping out of the 17.
There will have to be a change on the bench, with mid-season recruit Kyle Amor missing with what is thought to be a slight muscle injury.
The task of replacing him could well fall to James Harrison, who would be making his first-team debut for the club if selected.
Daryl Powell is known to have been impressed with Harrison’s recovery from a serious ACL injury, detailing that he had broken club records for a front-rower in the notorious ‘Bronco’ fitness test.
As a result, I think he will edge out Joe Bullock for the last remaining bench spot as despite questions over his form from the terraces, I believe Joe Philbin will keep his place alongside Danny Walker and potential home debutant Thomas Mikaele.
Could James Harrison make his first-team debut tomorrow? Picture by Bob Brough
Predicted Warrington Wolves team to face Hull FC
Widdop; Wrench, Mata’utia, King, Ashton; Ratchford, Williams; Mulhern, D Clark, Cooper, Holmes, Currie, Davis
Subs: Philbin, Walker, Mikaele, Harrison
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