Hull KR v Hull FC: Teams

Cooke: Fit to face former club

Every time we've played against them - whether it's been at our place or theirs, or at a neutral venue, they've always been very good games

Justin Morgan
Quotes of the week

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Hull KR v Hull FC
Saturday July 25, Sky Sports 3/HD3 from 5.55pm

Related links

Teams

• Hull FC
• Hull K R

Also see

• R League on Sky
• Rugby League Scores
• Sky Sports experts

Hull KR will be looking to complete the double over city rivals Hull FC when the two neighbours meet in the 208th derby on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

The Robins narrowly triumphed 18-14 in the reverse fixture back in April in front of a crowd of 22,337 at the KC Stadium.

Another sizeable attendance is expected at Craven Park and Rovers coach Justin Morgan believes the fans add an extra edge to the games.

"The place is going to be packed," he told Sky Sports News.

Intensity

"Every time we've played against them - whether it's been at our place or theirs, or at a neutral venue, they've always been very good games.

"That's due to the fact that the crowds have really added to the intensity with their singing and cheering throughout the entire match."

Paul Cooke, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem, has been included in Rovers' 19-man squad and looks likely to line up against his former employers.

There is also a place for Daniel Fitzhenry, who has overcome a knee injury and is expected to start.

Shaun Briscoe and loan signing Kyle Bibb have been recalled by Morgan, who has opted to leave out Jason Netherton and Ben Cockayne.

The Robins, who were beaten at Leeds last time out, know a win against the Black and Whites will tighten their grip on fourth place in the table.

Fading hopes

In contrast, Hull FC make the very short trip to the home of their arch rivals knowing a victory is crucial, not just for their supporters but also to keep alive their fading play-off hopes.

Richard Agar's side ended a run of three straight league defeats with a 22-6 result against rock-bottom Celtic Crusaders last Friday.

That triumph - played out in front of a season-low crowd of 10,397 - was just Hull's fourth in 17 games and leaves them on 18 points, two back of eighth-placed Harlequins, though the London club do have a game in hand.

However, they have not won away from home since beating lowly Salford at The Willows back on April 25.

Agar will make a late call on whether to play centre Kirk Yeaman but Jamie Thackray is definitely missing having failed to recover from a hamstring injury.

Hull KR squad: Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon, Cooke, Dobson, Vella, Fisher, Wheeldon, Newton, Galea, Murrell, Lovegrove, Fitzhenry, Walker, Fozzard, I'Anson, Bibb.

Hull FC squad: Berrigan, Burnett, Calderwood, Cordoba, Hall, G. Horne, R. Horne, Houghton, King, Lee, Manu, Moa, Radford, Raynor, Tansey, Thorman, Tickle, Whiting, Yeaman.