As a Salford fan I'm dreading it. After our performance last time out though, things cant get any worse can they? Doesn't help either that since that game we've lost Hock permanently and Locke, Dobson and Paterson to injury. There's talk of Junior Sa'u returning to the team for Saturday though which will be a boost, although how fit he is god only knows.

With regards to parking... DO NOT PARK ON THE STADIUM CAR PARK IF YOU WANT LEAVE ANYTIME AFTER THE FINAL HOOTER. THE CAR PARK IS CLOSED FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO TO ALLOW PEDESTRIANS TO EXIT, THIS OBVIOUSLY CAUSES A BACKLOG AND MEANS YOU WONT ACTUALLY LEAVE UNTIL 45 MINS AFTER THE GAME. ECCLES RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB OR BARTON AIRFIELD ARE YOUR BETTER BETS FOR QUICK EXITS.

Shaul and Ellis not being risked. Sa and Talanoa are back.

Rankin
Lineham
Sa
Yeaman
Talanoa
Pryce
Sneyd
Watts
Houghton
Paea
Minichiello
Hadley
Westerman

Cunningham
Thompson
Green
Feka

I think that's how we will go.

RANKIN RETURNS FOR SALFORD CLASH

Jordan Rankin is set to feature in his first Super League fixture of 2015, as Lee Radford names his 19-man squad for Saturday’s clash with Salford Red Devils, kick off 7.30pm.

The 23-year old will step on to the field at the AJ Bell Stadium to make his first competitive appearance of the season in Black and White, having been kept out the side by the in-form Jamie Shaul.

Meanwhile second row forward Dean Hadley is the only other change to the preliminary squad for this weekend’s clash at the AJ Bell Stadium, after he impressed with a solid display against Warrington Wolves two weeks ago in the absence of captain Gareth Ellis.

Radford has opted not to risk both skipper Ellis and Shaul for what is expected to be a highly physical encounter against the Red Devils, but will be confident his side can continue their early form.

The inclusion of both Setaimata Sa and Fetuli Talanoa will also give the Airlie Birds a boost, with both players returning to fitness having been pulled out of the side at the last minute for the home opener at the KC Stadium.

Commenting on the changes to squad Radford said, “The game has fallen a little bit too soon for Gareth and Jamie, and we want to give them as long we can to recover.

“The fact that the players that were called up on such short notice against Warrington played so well, is testament to the strength of our squad and we’ll take confidence from that, especially when you consider we have a five day turnaround for Leeds after Saturday.

“However our focus at this time is on Salford and the squad we have available are more than capable of getting a result and that’s what we’ll be going there to do.”

Hull FC 19-man Squad: Bowden, Cunningham, Green, Hadley, Houghton, Lineham, Minichiello, Paea, Paleaaesina, Pryce, Rankin, Sa, Sneyd, Talanoa, Thompson, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman

No Locke, Paterson, Dobson, Jones-Bishop, Puletua or Hock

Rankin
Lineham
Sa
yeaman
Talanoa
Pryce
Sneyd
Watts
Houghton
Paea
Minichiello
Whiting
Westerman

Cunningham
Thompson
Hadley
Feka

that's what id go with

Not far off
Radford keeps mentioning the short turnround for Leeds and utilising the squad so maybe a surprise or two.
Cunningham worked hard at Doncaster and was most peoples MOM on Sunday so I think he will keep him back for leeds and bring Whiting onto the bench with Thompson Green and Feka.
Definitely see Feka in for Bowden.

Green needs to put a shift in, he's a big lad but for me he's not running his 'weight' and as has being mentioned when we interchanged the props we've lost a bit up front. Let's hope Radford has learnt his lesson from the Widnes game last year when he held back one of the interchange forwards until 7 minutes from time on the premise of only using a youngster once we'd won principle.

Without dissing Salford they are in disarray, missing two big forwards and Dobson so we could possibly have bloodied one of our younger forwards, but I think this early in the season and having had an extra week I think game time is more important than resting and worrying about a 5 day turnaround. This will be our second consecutive 5 day so I'm hoping that come the Wigan game we'll have a slight advantage after they play Cas away. and have a 5 day interval.
The disparity in down time between games I think is going to be massively crucial this year..in April we have 3 games in 9 days (KR, St's, Widnes)which is a ridiculous scenario.

Doesn;t every team have 3 games in 9 days over easter?

yes, although after easter monday we only have 2 days rest then its widnes at home the thursday night!

3 in 8 then. We've drawn the short straw over easter with the derby, a trip to the champions and then a 3 day turnaround

No you don't, it's a Friday, there isn't a Thursday night game that week.

Just looked and widnes play the frenchies on easter monday so should be to our advantage

I actually think we've done alright out of the Easter fixtures. At home for the derby, extra days rest against Saints who will have a physical game v Wigan, then Widnes who have to travel to Catalans. Then we get a 9 day turnaround to rest up. It's about as good as you could ask for really.

My bad it's the away fixture againSt widnes that is a Thursday night

That's a really naff pick, one of the longest trips moved to a "school" night. Most Thurs games are local this season, there are a few exceptions, this is the worst one for travelling fans. Not that Sky give 2 fooks about away fans.

tell me about it! whoever picked this game needs shooting!

annoying that i had to use one days holiday when a sunday fixture i wouldn't

Over Easter yes, some will have a day extra, but some weeks teams will have 9/10 days between games. It's where in the season this occurs (getting knocked out in the cup early guarantees you two/three free weekends!) and which teams you face after a short turnaround.
Would you rather face say Warrington/Wigan away when they've had 9 days rest and you've had 5 or say Wakefield/Salford?
Strength in depth of a teams squad thus is equally vital.
As I said the disparity between matches is going to be crucial over the season, those teams that it favours slightly could be the difference between top 8 and not.

i will hazard a guess that we'll line up something like this;

Evalds
MCB
j.Grffin
Sau
Johnson
Chase
Fages
Morley
Lee
Tasi
Hansen
Hauraki
J.Walne

Taylor
Hood
A.Walne
Walton

Some big players missing but as they say games aren't played on paper!

On paper we are far stronger, but there's still enough there to turn us over if we don't have the right attitude. This is a good benchmark for what Radford has done with the players during the off season. In the past we have just not turned up to these games with the right frame of mind and have lost.

What do you Salford fans think of Fages btw? What kind of half back is he? I have honestly never seen him do anything of note, in fact other than when he was nearly killed by the Catalans prop I barely seem to notice him even when I know he's playing. Not really knocking him because I don't see much of Salford and he always seems to get mentioned, he must have something about him.

I like him tough little cookie his best position is certainly in the halves and good at spotting little gaps quite an elusive runner also. And remember he's only 20 years old. Probably lacks a good kicking game though hence why we brought in Dobson.

Pity we didn't keep hold of Sneyd i would much prefer him & Fages and bring in a quality hooker rather then Dobson & Chase who have yet to show any kid of form although still early doors.

Good player, who has the potential to become very good. He will be starting at 7 against you on Saturday so you’ll have a better chance to observe for yourself. He enjoys taking the line on and making a break and also has a surprisingly tough defence considering his size. As mentioned above, lacks the kicking game to be anything other than just ‘good’ at the moment. Hopefully he’ll pick up a thing or two from Dobson with that respect.

Never that confident without Gaz.
He sets the benchmark for the rest of the boys to follow.
Always a big miss without the Captain.

This

I am hoping Minichello can take this role in Ellis' absence.

And Westerman. His leadership grows each year.

We didn;t crumble against wire without ellis so no reason to think we will tomorrow. We should beat that team if we want to be in the 8 at the split