The squad news for Wire this week has been dominated by the confirmation that second rower Ben Murdoch-Masila will be leaving the club at the end of 2020 to join NRL side New Zealand Warriors in 2021. Some will consider this a blow, as the Tongan has started 2020 positively, though others have suggested that Wire have never managed to get the best out of him that we saw in his time at Salford, so aren't too disappointed with the news. Murdoch-Masila has 80% of the current season still to go though and will be expected to play a big part in the rest of 2020. The other news this week is that Anthony Gelling, who hasn't featured since the Round Two win over St Helens due to an ongoing police matter, is now back available for selection and is in this week's 21-man-squad. Co-captain Jack Hughes has still not recovered from a hernia operation and Leilani Latu and Samy Kibula's wait for their Warrington debuts will go on as neither are included, though both featured for the Wire reserves this weekend. Luis Johnson also doesn't make the 21, though there is room for young forward Eribe Doro. Let's see what my 17 would be...
Full-Back - 1 Stefan Ratchford
Ratchford has been brilliant so far this season and his big-game knowhow and expertise will be crucial in this huge clash.
Winger - 2 Tom Lineham
Lineham travels to his former club in good form, with three tries in his last five games. I've been very impressed with him at home, but I'm waiting for a good away show from him - maybe this is the chance.
Centre - 4 Toby King
King had easily his best game of the season so far last week against Castleford and if he can continue in that vein, Wire should be dangerous in attack.
Centre - 3 Anthony Gelling
Since Gelling was stood down from selection, Wire have started three different players at right-centre, with none of them particularly impressing. I'd bring Gelling back for this one - he was first-choice at the start of the season after all, so it makes sense that he'd come straight back in.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
Hull FC are a great attacking side and I wonder if more of Charnley's game on Thursday will be centred around his defensive work. He's very good at that side of the game and it will be needed with FC's attacking prowess.
Stand-Off - 6 Blake Austin
Last week should spark Austin into life after a low-key start to the season and it was this fixture last season that he put in his best performance in England, scoring four tries. A repeat certainly wouldn't go amiss...
Scrum-Half - 7 Gareth Widdop
This is a huge game for Widdop. We've seen one or two flashes but nothing concrete from him yet - Thursday would be a great time for him to start.
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
I was hoping we'd start to see Joe Philbin with a regular starting spot but Chris Hill has upped his game since returning from suspension, not conceding a single penalty in two games and laying a platform early on for Philbin to enter.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Clark didn't start last week but I expect him to return for this one. While Danny Walker did a good job, Clark will be back to full fitness by now and this is too big a game for him not to play in.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
Cooper was sensational last week and with FC possessing some good forwards, Cooper will be very important as Wire look to get on top through the middle.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Currie has arguably been Warrington's player of the season so far and will hopefully be able to continue his run of good form on Thursday night.
Second Row - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
Despite the news of Murdoch-Masila's departure at the end of the season, there should be no doubt over him keeping his place, particularly with Jack Hughes still unavailable.
Loose Forward - 14 Jason Clark
Jason Clark has been much improved so far this season and helps set the tempo early on in matches, something that could be important in what is likely to be a tight game.
Interchange - 15 Joe Philbin
Philbin is becoming one of the best interchanges in the whole league. Every time he comes on the game changes and I expect him to have a big impact here.
Interchange - 18 Sitaleki Akauola
I have been critical of Akauola but he put in an okay stint last week. I want to see a bench with forwards and gusto, and that includes Akauola.
Interchange - 19 Matt Davis
The ex-London man was left out of last week's squad in place of Jake Mamo, who wasn't even used in the end. I certainly think having his industry on the bench will be useful on Thursday.
Interchange - 20 Danny Walker
He was in from the start last week and did really well, and I expect him to remain in the squad this time around, but for me Danny Walker will be used from the bench. His pace and slightness will be difficult for Hull to handle in the final stages of the match.
Which means that I have left out Eribe Doro, who I don't think is ready for first-team action yet, Luther Burrell, who needs some time in the reserves to get up to speed, and Jake Mamo and Keanan Brand, both of whom are rendered unlikely to start now that Gelling has returned. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Mamo is named on the bench on Thursday, though.
In my pre-season predictions, I had Hull FC to finish 2nd. Their recruitment and retention had given them a squad bursting with quality. They have won three of their first six games and currently lie 7th, one place above Wire. After winning their opening two games impressively against Leeds and Hull KR, FC suffered three defeats on the spin - Wigan away and two second-half collapses at home from winning positions against St Helens and Catalans, before getting back to winning ways last Friday with a golden point win at Wakefield. I feel that Hull FC and Warrington are in similar positions - both have hugely exciting squads but both are too inconsistent and there are major question marks over the coach. They are a side that can produce terrifying attacking structure with their creative players like Albert Kelly and Marc Sneyd, one of the best goal-kickers and the best exponent of the drop-goal in Super League. Josh Jones and Josh Griffin have made superb starts to 2020, with Griffin in particular making a number of marvellous breaks and proving to be a deadly weapon for the Black and Whites. Mahe Fonua and Jamie Shaul are top attacking players and Carlos Tuimavave is a reliable centre, while Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton and Gareth Ellis are all very good forwards. Despite all that quality though, FC are missing plenty of their big guns for this one. Jake Connor, one of the most mercurial talents in the league, is out for a month and will be a huge miss - on his day he's top class. Ratu Naulago is one of the quickest players in the competition and is out, as are fellow wingers Adam Swift and Bureta Faraimo, meaning youngster Kieran Buchanan will probably start out wide. Influential forwards Manu Ma'u and Ligi Sao are also out, as is former Wire man Andre Savelio.
Predicted Hull FC lineup:
Jamie Shaul; Mahe Fonua, Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave, Kieran Buchanan; Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd; Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Josh Bowden, Josh Jones, Jordan Lane, Gareth Ellis.
Interchanges: Masi Matongo, Brad Fash, Tevita Satae, Jordan Johnstone.
Hull FC are still a good team, even without their missing players, but I feel Wire might just get the better of them here. They are missing so many key men for this one, which surely plays into the hands of the away side. It will be another close game, just like both teams had last week, but Wire could get the better of Lee Radford's team if they put in another gritty performance, with some attacking spark added. Two underperforming early-season favourites, both in need of a win. Enormous game, this. Let's hope for a repeat of last season's trip to the KCOM, when Wire ran in 63 points in a demolition job - arguably the best performance under Steve Price so far.
SUPER LEAGUE ROUND SEVEN PREDICTIONS
Warrington to beat Hull FC by 1-5 points
Wigan to beat Salford by 18-23 points (joker)
Catalans to beat Leeds by 6-11 points
St Helens to beat Castleford by 12-17 points
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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