Hull prepare for Bulls
showdown

New Zealand international Sione Faumuina is poised to return for Hull?s make-or-break clash with Bradford Buls at Odsal on Saturday.

The 24-year-old, signed on a short-term contract from New Zealand Warriors, missed his side?s 40-6 victory at Warrington in the opening round of the engage Super League play-offs with a shoulder injury.

But he is now back in full training and will bolster Hull?s bid to stay on course for a first-ever Grand Final appearance.

Hull have no other injury worries other than full-back Shaun Briscoe, who has undergone an appendix operation.

Bradford, too, are virtually at full strength and coach Brian Noble is also ready to change a winning team to accommodate fit-again full-back Michael Withers.

?I?ve done it for the last three weeks,? said Noble, whose only absentee is Great Britain winger Stuart Reardon with a knee strain.

Withers has recovered from a rib injury while the Bulls have goalkicking scrum-half Paul Deacon back after illness.

Noble insists he will take no notice of the 49-6 drubbing his side handed out to Hull at Odsal just four weeks ago, but Kear believes his players have a wrong to put right.

?Obviously 49-6 was a very bitter pill to swallow,? he said. ?I think it?s probably the worst performance we?ve put in all season and it is something we really do need to rectify.

?But we?re a confident group of players and we know we are capable of beating anybody. We?re also highly motivated because we know, if we win, we are one game away from Old Trafford.?

Bradford Bulls v Hull FC, Odsal Stadium, Saturday October 1 2005

Bradford 18-man: Vainikolo, Deacon, Morley, Fielden, I. Harris, Withers, Johnson, Lynch, B. Harris, L. Pryce, Peacock, Paul, Vagana, Langley, Hape, Meyers, Radford, Henderson.

Hull 18-man: Blacklock, Yeaman, Raynor, R. Horne, Dowes, Swain, King, McMenemy, Kearney, Cooke, Tony, Thackray, Chester, Saxton, Faumuina, Carvell, Brough, Whiting.