This week's team news is fairly significant - Daryl Clark and Joe Philbin are both rested from the squad. Clark has been in sensational form lately and will be a big miss but with huge home games against Wakefield and St Helens coming up, it makes sense. Philbin has also been playing well, and has been a big player in the pack. Last week's debutant Josh Thewlis is also out, with Lama Tasi and Ryan Atkins both returning to the fold, and Jake Mamo is back in after a one-match suspension.
Full Back - 22 Jake Mamo
Mamo had done really well in his two games at full back since replacing the injured Stefan Ratchford, and after receiving a one-game ban for an incident in his last game, also at KR, is back for this trip to East Yorkshire. Hopefully he can continue his good form and have a prolonged run in the team now.
Winger - 3 Bryson Goodwin
The centre is in great form and produced one of his best performances in a Warrington shirt last week against Catalans, so I am a little reluctant to see him shifted out wide, though I think it is necessary. Jack Johnson wasn't particularly strong on the wing, and with Atkins back, I expect to see a more experienced back line, even with Goodwin slightly out of position.
Centre - 4 Ryan Atkins
It's been a while since Atkins has played, though I think he is likely to feature in this one. There is the possibility that Johnson keeps his place on the wing in order to keep Goodwin at centre, or even have Johnson at full back and Mamo on the wing. Not sure really.
Centre - 18 Toby King
I'm sure about this one though. It's been this edge that has been consistent in terms of selection and performance. King has been very good for most of 2019 and will keep his place here.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
It was good to see Charnley score against Catalans last week, his first try since April's edition of Hull KR v Warrington. Let's hope for a scoring burst again now.
Stand Off - 6 Blake Austin
Austin has scored on both of his visits to Hull KR this season, and is in a phenomenal vein of scoring lately, with 18 tries for 2019. I keep thinking surely he will ease up on the scoring soon, but it doesn't seem to be happening. Always a joy to behold.
Scrum Half - 15 Declan Patton
The much-maligned Patton had probably the best game of his season last time out, with a glorious assist for Goodwin's try, and a perfect return of goal-kicking too. Let's hope he continues to improve.
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
It seems automatic that Hill and Cooper start every game. The captain always works hard and sets a good platform for the forwards.
Hooker - 21 Danny Walker
This was a tough decision. With no Clark this week, it is likely to be between Walker and Matt Davis for the hooker role. I think it's about time Walker was given a start, we need to see what he can do.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
Cooper was brilliant a few weeks ago in the cup win at Craven Park and will be looking to replicate that level of performance, as he does 99% of the time.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
When we defeated KR in the cup quarter finals two weeks ago, Ben Currie was outstanding and was the best player on the pitch. If he can get close to those levels again, we'll have a chance as his defensive output was simply world class. I really think we're starting to see the best of him again.
Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
I considered Hughes for the loose forward role where he has played once this season, though I wanted to keep some elements of the team consistent, so I opted to continue with the second row partnership of Currie and Hughes.
Loose Forward - 23 Matt Davis
Again, this was a tricky choice. I went for Davis at loose forward rather than at hooker because I do want to see Walker get some gametime. If Davis does start at nine, I wouldn't be against Harvey Livett getting a game at loose forward, which he claims to be his strongest position.
Interchange - 14 Jason Clark
I gave a little consideration to Clark starting this game, probably at loose forward, but eventually opted against it, as it seems unlikely given how almost all of his appearances have been from the bench this season.
Interchange - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
Again, someone who could potentially start in the second row if Hughes were to play at loose forward. Has had a good impact on the last few games, hopefully a trend which can continue.
Interchange - 19 Sitaleki Akauola
It crossed my mind a lot this week that Akauola is out of contract at the end of 2019. He's really impressed since coming into the side and had another fine outing at the HJ last week.
Interchange - 20 Harvey Livett
It's been a while since we saw Livett, but I think he will be drafted in for this one, the only question is whether that will be from the start or as an interchange.
LINEUP LAST TIME OUT VS CATALANS:
Thewlis; Johnson, Goodwin, King, Charnley; Austin, Patton; Hill, D Clark, Cooper; Currie, Hughes; Philbin
Interchanges: Davis, Akauola, J Clark, Murdoch-Masila
MY SWEET 17 VS HULL KR:
Mamo; Goodwin, Atkins, King, Charnley; Austin, Patton; Hill, Walker, Cooper; Currie, Hughes; Davis
Interchanges: J Clark, Akauola, Murdoch-Masila, Livett
In all the time I have been doing this, this was one of the hardest Sweet 17's I've done. There are lots of positions up for grabs and I'd say that the only certainties would be King at centre, Charnley on the wing, Austin and Patton in the halves, Hill, Cooper and Currie. There are some players who will surely start, such as Hughes, Mamo, Goodwin and Davis, though there are question marks about where they will play. I'm really interested to see what team Steve Price puts out for this one. Last weekend, Justin Holbrook made some changes to his St Helens side and they were surprisingly beaten by London Broncos, so we shouldn't take the result for granted, and with Saints proving that they aren't invincible, we need to keep that pressure on them just in case they slip up again with the Saints travelling to the HJ at the end of this month.
It will also be an emotional day as Tony Smith takes charge of KR and takes on Warrington for the first time since leaving us in 2017. I was a massive fan of Smith, he gave us some great memories in his tenure, thinking particularly about the Challenge Cups and League Leaders' Shields, though he couldn't get a Grand Final win. It turned sour at the end and his final year was a disaster, but hopefully he will still get a fond reception from the Wire fans at Craven Park. I won't be able to make the trip this time, but I hope all that do enjoy a place that is starting to feel like a second home. With two wins at KR already in 2019, let's hope it becomes three on Saturday. It could be harder than the previous two with no Clark for us and KR looking like they may have improved already under Smith, losing narrowly to Wigan last time out in Smith's first game. Hopefully we'll still have enough.
It's always our year.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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