After a hugely successful international break for England's men and women against France, the Betfred Super League calendar resumes with a clash between form side Wigan Warriors and a Hull FC team looking to prove their first win in eight against Huddersfield Giants last time out was no fluke.
Here is everything you need to know about Round 11's opening clash.
Hull FC v Wigan Warriors
Where: MKM Stadium, Hull.
When: 8:00pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
Hull FC's last five: Won 20-14 v Huddersfield (Rd 10), Lost 10-34 @ Leeds (Rd 9), Lost 0-40 v Hull KR (Rd 8), Lost 6-34 @ Warrington (Rd 7), Lost 16-24 v Leigh (Rd 6)
Wigan's last five: Won 22-6 v Wakefield (Rd 10), Won 13-6 @ Warrington (Rd 9), Won 14-6 v St Helens (Rd 8), Won 34-6 @ Leigh (Rd 7), Won 20-16 v Salford (Rd 6)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull FC 13/5, Wigan 3/10, draw 20/1
First try scorer odds: Bevan French (Wigan) 6/1, Liam Marshall (Wigan) 7/1, Abbas Miski (Wigan) 9/1, Adam Swift (Hull FC) 11/1, Toby King (Wigan) 14/1
Milestones:
Harry Smith will make his 100th career appearance if selected, adding an 81st Wigan cap to his 16 with Swinton Lions, one for London Skolars, one for England Knights and his England debut against France last week.
Previous meetings:
Round 19, 2022: Wigan Warriors 60, Hull FC 0
Round 13, 2022: Hull FC 31, Wigan Warriors 22
Round 7, 2022: Wigan Warriors 19, Hull FC 18
Round 24, 2021: Hull FC 0, Wigan Warriors 10
Round 5, 2021: Wigan Warriors 16, Hull FC 14
Total Super League meetings: 63 (Hull FC 13, Wigan 48, two draws)
Hull FC's victory over Huddersfield was a long time coming after seven successive defeats which ranged from the painful to the downright pathetic. That success over Ian Watson's Giants will at least give Tony Smith and his players something to build on as the league leaders come to the MKM Stadium, while they are also boosted by the return from injury of Jake Trueman for a potential club debut. Brad Fash's new three-year deal is further good news for a club that has not had a lot of that commodity so far in 2023.
Matt Peet's Coach of the Month award for April was reward for a 100 per cent month for the Warriors including victories over neighbours St Helens in Rivals Round and then against the previously unbeaten Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. While they now meet a side with just three wins from 10 to their name, Peet will be wary of his side taking the Airlie Birds lightly after their returning to winning ways in Round 10.
Sportsman stat: Hull FC prop Scott Taylor's 299 club appearances include 54 for Wigan in 2013 and 2014. He won one Grand Final and lost a second in his time in Cherry and White.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
