After 11 successive losses, Wakefield Trinity go looking for their first Betfred Super League win of the season on Thursday night when they host Hull FC at Belle Vue, with many pinpointing this match as their best chance of points yet.
However, the Airlie Birds are slowly playing their way back into form, with victories over Huddersfield Giants and Wigan Warriors in their last two matches helping to turn the page on a seven-game losing streak.
Here is everything you need to know about Thursday's opening game of Round 12.
Wakefield Trinity v Hull FC
Where: Be Well Support Stadium, Wakefield.
When: 8:00pm
TV: Sky Sports Arena
Wakefield's last five: Lost 18-32 @ Warrington (Rd 11), Lost 6-22 @ Wigan (Rd 10), Lost 0-32 v Leigh (Rd 9), Lost 4-16 @ Castleford (Rd 8), Lost 0-38 @ St Helens (Rd 7)
Hull FC's last five: Won 14-10 v Wigan (Rd 11), 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)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Wakefield 23/10, Hull FC 4/11, draw 18/1
First try scorer odds: Darnell McIntosh (Hull FC) 7/1, Adam Swift (Hull FC) 9/1, Jorge Taufua (Wakefield) 10/1, Cameron Scott (Hull FC) 10/1, Liam Sutcliffe (Hull FC) 11/1
Previous meetings:
Round 24, 2022: Hull FC 18, Wakefield Trinity 26
Round 14, 2022: Wakefield Trinity 19, Hull FC 18
Round 1, 2022: Wakefield Trinity 12, Hull FC 16
Round 25, 2021: Wakefield Trinity 44, Hull FC 12
Round 4, 2021: Hull FC 20, Wakefield Trinity 14
Total Super League meetings: 60 (Wakefield 17, Hull FC 42, one draw)
Mark Applegarth will have been encouraged by his Trinity side's performance in the defeat away to top-of-the-table Warrington Wolves even if it extended their winless run to 11. Kevin Proctor's sending-off with the score at 12-12 really put a stick in Wakey's spokes and now they find themselves looking to rack up a victory at the 12th time of asking, with the Kiwi veteran able to line up in the side after being fined for his indiscretion last week rather than suspended. Former Man of Steel Luke Gale is in line for a Trinity debut a week on from his arrival from Keighley Cougars.
For Hull this game provides a great opportunity to continue their return to form after successive home victories in their last two matches. Their performance in treacherous conditions against Wigan in Round 11 was particularly impressive, and coach Tony Smith will want to see his troops raise their standards still further to bring them ever closer to the Super League's midfield pack. Smith could name the same matchday 17 as the one which beat the Warriors 14-10.
Sportsman stat: Wakefield lost their first 11 Super League meetings with Hull and have since gone on subsequent losing runs against the Black and Whites of eight, six and five matches.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
